Candidates along with their parents sleep on railway FOB

He added, “ We haven't found another ground with such facilities. Last year, we conducted the recruitment at Mumbai University ground in Kalina, but due to the marshy conditions this year, it’s not feasible. Initially, we tested only 1,000 candidates, but only 400 were eligible due to factors like height. We started inviting 5,000 candidates daily, and now we’ve increased it to 8,000. We eliminate more than 3,000 candidates daily based on criteria, leaving us with 5,000 eligible candidates for testing.”

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According to the police, there is a recurring issue with candidates arriving at the selection ground a day before their scheduled appointments, despite repeated reminders. Uninvited parents also create unnecessary chaos during the selection process. More than 700 people, including SRPF personnel and others, are present at the facility. Cops have installed multiple CCTV cameras to ensure transparency in the testing process.

Mumbai police admin DCP Navnath Dhavale said, “All candidates are receiving the best facilities at this ground, including biscuits, water, and bananas. We also have toilet facilities on site. The Wankhede stadium has provided us with a pavilion for additional support. We are doing our best to ensure the comfort of the candidates.”

Procedure of the test

Upon entering the Mumbai University ground, candidates fill out a form with their photos. Their heights are measured and recorded by the recruitment officers. They then run 100 metres, followed by 800 metres for women and 1,600 metres for men. After the running test, results are declared and candidates sign them. If any candidate is dissatisfied with their result, they can apply for a review, which will be checked using CCTV footage.

On Tuesday night, the mid-day team visited the Mumbai University ground at Marine Drive and found that candidates were waiting outside the ground until late due to overcrowding. Some candidates were sleeping with their parents on the railway foot over bridge, and many were eating food using their mobile phone flashlights.