ETHEKWINI City is running ahead of schedule with most plans for the 2010 soccer extravaganza almost complete.

This is what KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Willies Mchunu was told yesterday when he went on a guided tour.

Mchunu said he was impressed with the work done by the eThekwini municipality to get the city ready for the world's biggest sporting event.

But he said he would like to see some improvements.

Mchunu was on a 2010 Transport State of Readiness Tour yesterday.

eThekwini transport deputy head Logan Moodley told Mchunu that the city was running ahead of schedule with most plans and those that were not yet complete would be by May.

The tour kicked off at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium, where Mchunu was shown the new train station behind the stadium on Umgeni Road.

The next stop was the remote search park and the Local Organising Committee's coach park venue on the former NMR Avenue.

"A temporary bridge will be erected over Argyle Road so that people coming from this venue can walk safely to the stadium," Moodley said.

Mchunu was also taken to the central transport hub, a site located next to the Workshop on Old Fort Road.

"At this venue buses and taxis will drop off fans who will then walk to the stadium.

"Along the way there will be various types of entertainment. Food will also be on sale."

Mchunu also visited Warwick Junction, the main transport hub and gateway to the city, which sees more than 400000 people who use public transport passing through on a daily basis.

Mchunu said he was concerned about the homeless people who had established shacks under a newly built pedestrian bridge in Warwick Avenue.

"The issue of homeless people sleeping under bridges and underpasses needs to be addressed urgently," he said.