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

As the city gears up for Maharashtras 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 GaneshotsavThe Ganeshotsav in Mumbai will begin on September 7 and continue for the next ten daysWith 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 safetySeveral 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 saidAs 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 addedLast 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 2866 police officers and 16250 police enforcers including Assistant Commissioners of PoliceThe 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 lakesThe 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 festivalThe 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 saidHe added that the realtime 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 31In the traffic notification the police had said that on 31st August 2024 a procession of Chitamani Ganpti Aagman is scheduled from 1400 hrs onwards on the following route Ganesh Takies Parab Chowk Sane Guruji Marg Gas Company Junction Dr BA Road South Bound Sardar Hotel Junction Dattaram Lad Marg to Chintamani Ganpati MandalA 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 statedThe 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 GaneshDays 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 GSB Mandals Ganesh festival celebrationsIn this traffic notification the Mumbai Traffic Police had said that on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg GSB Ganeshotsav Mandal will celebrate Ganeshotsav like every year To avoid inconvenience to the devotees and citizens who come in large numbers for Lord Ganeshs darshanThe 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 07092024 to 12092024 It is necessary to issue proper orders regarding traffic managementThe police said To prevent danger obstruction and inconvenience to the public the traffic arrangements order was being issuedThe traffic police in its advisory said that the following routes may be closed as and when required after 1400 hrs on August 31 till the completion of the procession on SaturdayAnother 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 accordinglyHe 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 effectivelyDedicated teams will be stationed near major Ganesh Mandals and immersion sites to assist in crowd management and handle any emergenciesIncreased 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