With more than 4,200 Ganesh idols expected to be immersed at the 99 immersion spots on the last day, the police have worked out a plan to ensure that neither the revellers nor the motorists face any problems.
With more than 4,200 Ganesh idols expected to be immersed at the 99 immersion spots in the city on the last day of the festival, the police have worked out a plan to ensure that neither the revellers nor the motorists face any problems.
Anant Chaturthi falls on Saturday — September 29.
At least 37 watch towers have been erected at the major immersion spots with the main control room being set up at Girgaum Chowpatty.
“On Monday, state home minister RR Patil inaugurated the control room at Girgaum Chowpatty. This control room will be used for bandobast co-ordination, CCTV operations, monitoring lost and found persons and coordinating and monitoring other agencies, reserves and lifeguards,” said Sadanand Date, joint commissioner of police (law and order).
Around 21,500 policemen, 2,500 police officers, 2,500 traffic policemen, two companies of the Rapid Action Force, one company of the Border Security Force and four companies of the State Reserve Police Force will be deployed across the city on the immersion days. Even the Navy and Coast Guard will pitch in by keeping a watch on the beaches.
For the convenience of the mandals and motorists, the traffic police plan to close 37 roads on Tuesday and Saturday — the last two immersion days — from 12pm to 6am the following day. Another 50 roads will be made one-way and parking will not be allowed on 61 roads, while heavy vehicles will be banned on 13 roads across the city on these two days.
To help the motorists, the traffic police has added a new feature on its website (www.trafficpolicemumbai.org) where they will update live traffic routes from source to destination along with the maps of road which motorists should opt or avoid. Around 35 Ham radio operators will also be roped in for this purpose.
“A red-colour code will be assigned to roads that are congested. The list will also provide a list of alternative routes,” said Vivek Phansalkar, joint commissioner of police (traffic).
The traffic police will also coordinate with other agencies such as the municipal corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and major Ganpati mandals.
“The BMC will post 88 lifeguards on beaches in addition to those appointed by the traffic police. Around 8,500 volunteers will be roped in, including 4,500 from the Anirudha Bapu Academy of Disaster Management and 1,000 each from NSS and NCC,” added Phansalkar.
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