25 September,2026 11:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Hundreds of Ganesh idols will be immersed across the city after processions on Friday, marking the culmination of the festival that began on September 14. Pic/PTI
More than 24,000 police personnel will be deployed across Mumbai on Friday to maintain law and order during Ganesh idol immersion processions on Anant Chaturdashi, while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed more than 25,000 officials and employees for the final day of the 12-day festival.
Hundreds of Ganesh idols will be immersed across the city after processions on Friday, marking the culmination of the festival that began on September 14. The police and civic authorities have made arrangements at natural and artificial immersion sites while traffic restrictions have been introduced on several major roads.
The Mumbai Police said a large security deployment would remain in place throughout the city during the immersion processions.
The deployment includes six Joint Commissioners of Police, nine Additional Commissioners of Police, 38 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 66 Assistant Commissioners of Police, along with other personnel.
Specialised units, including the Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force, Force One, Quick Response Teams, Law and Order platoons, Riot Control Squads, Delta and Combat units and Anti-Drone squads, will also be deployed at key and sensitive locations.
Police have appealed to citizens to remain cautious in crowded areas and cooperate with personnel deployed for security and crowd management.
Devotees have also been asked to immediately inform the police if they notice unclaimed or suspicious objects. Emergency assistance can be sought by calling 100 or 112, officials said.
The Mumbai Traffic Police has issued advisories and introduced restrictions on several major corridors to manage vehicle movement during the immersion processions.
In the Sakinaka Traffic Division, no-parking restrictions have been imposed for all types of vehicles on both the northbound and southbound carriageways of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), between the L&T Flyover and IIT Market Gate.
The Ghatkopar Traffic Division has also restricted the entry of heavy vehicles on both carriageways of the JVLR.
Heavy vehicles approaching the JVLR from the Eastern Express Highway will be required to remain on the highway. Vehicles travelling from the Western Express Highway towards the JVLR will also be diverted to continue along the highway.
In central Mumbai, where large crowds are expected around Lalbaug and Kalachowki, round-the-clock parking restrictions have been imposed on key arterial roads.
These include Dr B A Road in the southbound direction between Comrade Krishna Desai Chowk, also known as Bharat Mata Junction, and Hansraj Rathod Chowk, Bawla Compound Junction.
The restrictions also apply to the northbound stretch of Dr B A Road between Hansraj Rathod Chowk and Comrade Krishna Desai Chowk.
The BMC said more than 25,000 civic officials and employees would be deployed to manage immersion-related arrangements and ensure the process is conducted safely.
The civic body has deployed 1,132 lifeguards and installed 6,052 floodlights and searchlights at immersion sites.
It has also kept 85 ambulances and 10 motorboats ready at various locations to respond to emergencies.
For crowd management and coordination, the BMC has established 261 reception centres, 228 control rooms and 75 observation towers. A total of 489 temporary toilets and other basic facilities have also been arranged for devotees.
The BMC has urged devotees to follow instructions issued by civic and police authorities while participating in immersion activities.
The civic body has particularly cautioned citizens entering the sea to immerse idols, citing the presence of blue-button jellyfish and stingrays along Mumbai's coastline.
According to the BMC, 1,63,386 Ganapati idols had already been immersed during the 1.5-day, five-day, six-day and seven-day periods of the 12-day festival.
Citing directions issued by the Bombay High Court, the civic body said Ganesh idols up to six feet in height are required to be immersed in artificial lakes.
The BMC has made arrangements for such immersions and appealed to citizens to use designated artificial lakes rather than immersing idols in unauthorised locations.
Officials said free immersion facilities have been arranged at 387 artificial lakes and 67 natural immersion sites across Mumbai.
The civic body has asked citizens not to pay anyone for using the designated immersion facilities.
(With inputs from PTI)
