With Ganesh Chaturthi round the corner, we spoke to Devidas Kshirsagar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, D/Ward, about the ward’s preparedness for the festival
Girgaum Chowpatty is a major crowd-puller on Ganesh idol immersion days. So, a lot of preparation and management is required from various departments, but primarily from the local BMC ward. Devidas Kshirsagar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, D/Ward, shares with dna the work his ward has been doing round the clock.
He shares, “The preparations have already started and they are taking place in a full-fledged manner. We are keeping an eye on various pandals in the ward to ensure that there is no chaos. Girgaum Chowpatty is a major idol immersion spot. We see thousands of idols getting immersed throughout the festival, especially the big pandal idols. So, we ensure that there are better arrangements as pandal idols bring in large crowds, and hence safety needs to be maintained. We have already started flattening the sand and have arranged for platforms and seating for the people who will be in charge of managing
the crowds.
The plates that are used for placing on the beach have arrived already from the Ghatkopar office and they will be laid out soon. We are barricading the area around the beach to ensure safety of the devotees. We also have life guards in place as they are essential in case a person is unable to swim out due to high sea currents.
We have coordinated with the fire department and have sufficient equipment in place, in case of an emergency. There are close to 20 roads that are accessed during immersion days and there are a few bad patches in these areas, which we have already started working upon. We will ensure that the roads with potholes are surfaced and smoothened up before the festival begins. The route that is used by the Lalbaughcha Raja for the procession to move towards immersion has a few overgrown trees, which will be trimmed soon. The tree department is also checking for areas that require trees to be trimmed. The ward is conducting regular meetings with various departments to get an update on the status of work done and yet to be done, to ensure that we meet deadlines.”
){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}
 "Girgaum Chowpatty")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}