Anti-ramming barricades will be set up at immersion points to prevent a Barcelona- type terror attack
As Mumbaikars celebrate the first day of Ganeshotsav today, Mumbai police have laid out elaborate traffic management and security plans for the city. As many as 53 stretches of road will be closed to vehicular traffic from noon to 6 am for the four days of immersion, and 54 roads will become one-ways. In a first for the city, as an anti-terror measure, police will use high-tech face-detection and identification cameras during all 12 days.
The high-tech cameras will alert the police to the presence of any known suspects listed in their database at immersion points such as Girgaum Chowpatty. Anti-ramming barricades will be set up at immersion points to prevent a Barcelona- type terror attack.
Besides road closures at important stretches, 99 spots have been prohibited for parking on immersion days. Traffic restrictions will be imposed on August 26, 29, 31 and September 5, from 12 noon to 6 am the next day.
On Wednesday, Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar visited Girgaum Chowpatty to review security measures in the area, which sees over 1000 idol immersions. Over 50 CCTV cameras and eight watch towers have been set up to monitor the movement of people, and an Emergency Response and Mobile Surveillance Control and Command Centre van will be stationed there. Around 5,000 CCTV cameras installed across the city are directly linked to the van. Drones will also be used to keep a watch on the activities of revelers.
A special command centre has been developed especially for Lalbaughcha Raja at Parel.
"This year, more iron sheets have been used to make immersions a quick process. This will also accommodate more people and will help to speed up immersions without causing inconvenience to the devotees," said a senior Mumbai police officer.
Pravinkumar Padwal, Joint Commissioner of Police, South Region said, "Three face detection and identification cameras will be used on experimental basis and anti-ramming barricades will be put up on the pedestrian walkway towards Girgaum Chowpatty. We have a database of known suspects which will be used to operate the face detection and identification cameras."
The Mumbai Traffic Police has set up five control rooms at important immersion points of Girgaum Chowpatty, Shivaji Park, Bada Masjid, Bandra, Juhu and Ganesh Ghat at Powai. About 3600 traffic police officers and 500 traffic wardens will be deployed to manage traffic movement.
"We have cancelled the leaves of our employees and they will man the streets. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad has already started checking chronic points in the city while Quick Response Team, State Reserve Police and Riot Control Police and Anti Terror Cell will be present to ensure peaceful celebrations of the festival," said Dr. Rashmi Karandikar, DCP Operations and spokesperson for the Mumbai Police.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Ganeshotsav")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}