BEST to ease entry for bigger Ganesh idols

Mumbai is prepping to welcome its favourite God and in the next 10 days, the city will witness pandals at every corner of the street with the elephant God sitting mighty in his grandeur. However, are we ready to ensure a smooth-sailing welcome for towering Ganpati idols?

WAY TO GO: On August 26, BEST authorities started identifying places including narrow alleys in the island city, where power cables are hanging low. file Pic

Many Ganesh mandals across the city met the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) to raise the height of wires and cables over streetlights on city roads, which may end up creating an obstruction when idols are brought in.

The BEST authorities, on August 26, began their survey of identifying places including narrow alleys in the island city where power cables are hanging low. Sources in the BEST said that these wires and cables are normally only used for temporary connections.

"At many areas the road cannot be dug to lay wires underground. So we take them over streetlights, which at times even crisscross the roads from one-end-to-another," said a senior BEST official. So far the BEST has identified 400 such locations across the city.

Last year one of the Ganpati idols from Ganesh Galli in Lalbaug was damaged after getting entangled with overhead cables. "We have already asked to inspect and survey these locations," said O P Gupta, general manager, BEST. Moreover the BEST is also creating single window clearance for collecting deposit money and refunding it after Ganpati festivities end.

"Until now there were issues regarding refunding of money as many mandals complained of not receiving them on time. But now with the help of single window clearance we will be able to expedite this work," said BEST chairman Nana Ambole. The refund would be given within 60 days to the mandals, in case the amount is pending after the payment of electricity bill for all the 10 days.u00a0