26 August,2026 11:51 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The BMC said it has not taken any decision to make a fitness certificate compulsory for Ganesh idols based on their weight. Pic/Shadab Khan
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has clarified that reports claiming the civic body will make fitness certificates mandatory for Ganesh idols are factually incorrect and that no such instructions have been issued.
The clarification comes after messages circulated on social media and other platforms claimed that Ganeshotsav mandals would be required to obtain fitness certificates for idols weighing more than one tonne. The reports also suggested that mandals or idol makers would have to maintain detailed information about an idol from the time of its construction until its delivery.
According to the BMC, neither requirement has been introduced by the civic administration. The corporation said it has not taken any decision to make a fitness certificate compulsory for Ganesh idols based on their weight.
The BMC also denied reports that complete information about a Ganesh idol would have to be recorded throughout the process, starting from its construction and continuing until its delivery to a Ganeshotsav mandal.
The civic body said no instructions have been issued in this regard and appealed to Ganeshotsav mandals and devotees to avoid believing or forwarding unverified messages circulating on social media.
The clarification was issued on Wednesday, August 26, ahead of the upcoming Ganeshotsav celebrations in Mumbai.
The BMC said citizens should rely on official information from the civic administration rather than reports or messages circulating online. It reiterated that there has been no decision or directive requiring the proposed documentation or certification for Ganesh idols.
While denying the reports, the civic administration said safety arrangements would remain an important consideration during the arrival of Ganesh idols for the festival.
The BMC has appealed to Ganesh mandals to coordinate with the police and traffic departments, as well as the civic administration, while planning the arrival of idols. Such coordination is intended to help manage processions and movement on roads during the festival period.
The civic body has also asked Ganesh mandals to work with the concerned authorities and take necessary precautions while making arrangements for idol arrivals and related activities.
The BMC said coordinated planning by mandals and government agencies would help ensure that the festival is conducted safely and without disruption. It urged organisers and devotees to follow instructions issued by the relevant authorities and cooperate with civic and law enforcement personnel.
With preparations for Ganeshotsav 2026 underway, the civic administration has maintained that there is no requirement at present for a fitness certificate for Ganesh idols weighing more than one tonne, nor is there any compulsory system for tracking an idol from construction to delivery.
The BMC has therefore urged citizens and organisers to disregard the claims circulating on social media regarding these alleged requirements and to verify such information before acting on or sharing it.
