Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 25: For the first time this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has operationalised a dedicated Emergency Management Control Room at Girgaum Chowpatty to coordinate the response of multiple agencies during Ganesh idol immersion on Anant Chaturdashi on Friday.
The control room at Swarajyabhoomi will coordinate officials from the BMC Disaster Management Cell, Mumbai Police, Fire Brigade, Health Department, BEST, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and HAM radio operators for quick response in case of emergencies.
The D Ward will monitor live CCTV feeds from the Chowpatty area through screens installed at the control room, while two drones have been deployed to provide real-time information on any untoward incidents. The control room will coordinate with police, fire, health, coastal security agencies and other departments during the immersion process.
The civic body has also appointed a dedicated event management agency for arrangements at Girgaum Chowpatty. The agency is handling seating arrangements for dignitaries, public address systems, the line-up of incoming idols, crowd-management support and other venue-related logistics, while emergency response remains with the civic administration and its emergency agencies.
BMC said it is fully prepared to manage the large crowds expected at Girgaum Chowpatty and has taken special precautions to ensure that devotees and visitors do not face inconvenience.
Meanwhile, Thane Police have deployed two DCPs, four ACPs, 25 police inspectors, 80 APIs/PSIs, 795 police personnel, 160 Home Guards and two SRPF platoons across Zone 3 for Anant Chaturdashi. A total of 182 public Ganpati idols and 14,365 household idols are scheduled for immersion across the zone.
The immersion arrangements follow the Bombay High Court's directions that idols up to six feet in height be immersed in artificial water bodies, while idols above six feet can be immersed at designated natural water bodies. The rule remains in force for the 2026 festival season pending the final decision in the related PIL.
D Ward officers and staff underwent training on Thursday to prepare for emergencies at Chowpatty, including fires in pandals, drowning incidents and other situations that may arise during the immersion process.
Across Mumbai, the BMC has prepared 383 artificial ponds at 278 locations and arrangements at 67 natural immersion sites, including 44 beaches and jetties and 23 natural lakes.
The civic body has deployed 1,132 lifeguards, set up 228 control rooms and 75 observation towers, and arranged 1,194 steel plates, 23 German rafts, 34 cranes, 85 ambulances, 10 motorboats, 498 nirmalya kalash, 326 nirmalya dumpers and 489 temporary toilets. More than 25,000 civic personnel have been deployed for immersion-related arrangements across the city.
At Girgaum Chowpatty, arrangements include 12 artificial ponds, 20 observation towers, 22 rafts, 90 temporary toilets, three ambulances and around 1,000 personnel, besides lighting, drinking water, first-aid facilities, security and crowd-management measures.