Ganeshotsav 2024: Mumbai braces for festival rush with road closures and heightened security measures

As the city gears up for Maharashtra's biggest festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, the Mumbai Police have planned comprehensive security measures including traffic management to ensure smooth and safe festive celebrations during the upcoming Ganeshotsav.

The Ganeshotsav in Mumbai will begin on September 7 and continue for the next ten days.

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With thousands of devotees expected to participate in the celebrations which include visiting the sarvajanik or public Ganesh Mandals and seeking the blessing of Lord Ganesh, the Mumbai Police are implementing several measures to manage the anticipated surge in traffic and maintain public safety.

"Several key roads, especially in central Mumbai will experience temporary closures or diversions to facilitate the flow of processions and reduce congestion. Roads leading to popular Ganesh Mandals, immersion sites, and major venues will have designated detours," an official said.

As the festival approaches the end, on Anant Chaturdashi, Mumbai Police have decided to deploy maximum security at the city beaches including Girgaon, Juhu, Dadar, Versova, etc., the official added.

Last year, on Anant Chaturdashi, the Mumbai Police had strategically deployed 8 Additional Commissioners of Police, 25 Deputy Commissioners of Police, along with 45 units from the Mumbai Police Force, constituting 2,866 police officers and 16,250 police enforcers, including Assistant Commissioners of Police.

The security forces were stationed at 73 major immersion sites across Mumbai, including prominent locations such as Girgaon, Dadar, Juhu, Marve, and Aksa beach areas, in addition to 162 artificial lakes.

The official further said that strict law and order protocols have been put in place at each immersion site, and every disposal site is under continual CCTV surveillance as the city prepares to celebrate the Ganesh festival.

The Mumbai Traffic Police has implemented comprehensive traffic control measures to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement during the celebrations. The measures aim to minimise traffic congestion and facilitate smooth transportation for motorists and devotees alike, an official said.

He added that the real-time traffic updates are being shared on X, formerly Twitter and would continue during the festivities too. Detailed traffic diversions, restrictions and advisories would be shared as and when required, especially during Anant Chaturdashi and other visarjan processions.

For instance, last week, the Mumbai Traffic Police issued a traffic advisory ahead of the upcoming Ganeshotsav 2024 for the Chintamani Ganpati Aagman on Saturday, August 31.

In the traffic notification, the police had said that on 31st August 2024, a procession of Chitamani Ganpti Aagman is scheduled from 14.00 hrs. onwards on the following route Ganesh Takies (Parab Chowk) - Sane Guruji Marg- Gas Company Junction- Dr B.A. Road, South Bound- Sardar Hotel Junction- Dattaram Lad Marg to Chintamani Ganpati Mandal.

"A large crowd is expected to attend the aforesaid procession, which may lead to traffic congestion on the said route, therefore to prevent obstruction and inconvenience to the public a traffic management order was being issued," the traffic advisory stated.

The Lalbaug and Chinchpokli areas in central Mumbai are considered to be important for Lord Ganesh devotees and every year lakhs of devotees reach the areas for Puja and Darshan of their beloved deity. Meanwhile, the Chintamani Ganpati is a special attraction for people in Mumbai and the devotees of Lord Ganesh.

Days before, Mumbai Traffic had on August 28 issued a traffic advisory, listing diversions in the Kings Circle area of the city, ahead of the the G.S.B. Mandal's Ganesh festival celebrations.

In this traffic notification, the Mumbai Traffic Police had said that on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, G.S.B. Ganeshotsav Mandal will celebrate Ganeshotsav like every year. To avoid inconvenience to the devotees and citizens who come in large numbers for Lord Ganesh's darshan.

The police said that it is necessary for the smooth running of the traffic to keep the first lane of southbound closed temporarily for traffic up to 500 meters from 07/09/2024 to 12/09/2024. It is necessary to issue proper orders regarding traffic management.

The police said, "To prevent danger, obstruction and inconvenience to the public the traffic arrangements order was being issued."

The traffic police, in its advisory, said that the following routes may be closed as and when required after 14.00 hrs on August 31 till the completion of the procession on Saturday.

Another official said that the route closures and diversions would be announced from time to time along with timing so that the motorists, travellers and devotees can plan their journeys accordingly.

He said that the traffic police officials are being planned to be deployed at critical junctions and areas with high footfall to direct traffic and manage crowds effectively.

Dedicated teams will be stationed near major Ganesh Mandals and immersion sites to assist in crowd management and handle any emergencies.

Increased surveillance through CCTV cameras will monitor key areas to ensure public safety and quickly address any issues and security checkpoints will be set up at strategic locations, he said.