Mumbai Ganeshotsav: BSGSS flags delay in BMC annual traffic route guidebook

The event at the Mumbai Press Club, on Monday. PIC/SARTHAK MEHTA

The BMC hasn't issued a traffic routes guidebook this year," Naresh Dahibhavkar, president of BrihanMumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshutsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS) told mid-day at a conference held at Mumbai Press Club, near Azad Maidan on Monday.

According to BSGSS, which has 12,000 mandals as members, the ganeshotsav-specific guidebook which is released every year at least around a month prior to the festival, is handy for sarvjanik mandals and individual bhakts navigating aagman and visarjan routes. It has a list and map of all the visarjan points, public arrangements there, emergency service numbers, and contacts of BSGSS members.

[popcorn number="12,000" desc="No of mandals under BSGSS" class="Default"]

Arrangements discussed

Dahibavkar addressed the media, answering questions including updates on arrangement readiness of the mandals and the authorities, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA's) directions on prasad, DJs, and idol height concerns.

‘FDA meeting on Tuesday'

Dahibavkar said BSGSS members had doubts about potential FDA action on mahaprasad after reading news reports last month. "We had sent a letter to FDA on August 12 asking it to inform us about any specific SOPs they would like mandals - who prepare prasad - to follow. They didn't respond. Now, the FDA has given us an appointment on Tuesday. Mandals can't comply at short notice. Apart from these concerns, we fully support Tukaram Mundhe-ji in his work," Dahibhavkar said.

Illegal parking issue

Sharing the current situation on key routes for the festival, Dahibhavkar said the Mumbai Traffic Police have assured support with traffic diversions planned. Mandals have also stopped flagging pothole grievances to the BSGSS for over a week now, signalling successful rapid action by the BMC. "Although the traffic police take action, illegal parking persists on key routes, making them narrower for idol movement. I think towing/seizing these cars might be more effective than just monetary penalties," he stated.

‘Action welcome'

Responding to questions pertaining to the samiti's stance on DJ concerns and limiting idol height, Dahibhavkar said, "We welcome action by authorities. The BMC and police should take appropriate legal action wherever required - be it the idol height, sound levels, etc. We have been conveying decibel limits to mandals for years. Under the noise pollution and environment laws, 55db during the day and 45db at night are the acceptable limits. There is no specific fresh direction by us this year for DJs, as we are yet to hear any public concerns in Mumbai."

Height mandate

According to Dahibhavkar, for four years after 2008, Mumbai mandals followed an 18-feet-idol height limit, and the murtikars' samiti was also in on it. "But then the compliance didn't continue. Authorities can establish a similar regularisation again."

‘Only a week remains'

Naresh Dahibhavkar, president, BSGSS
‘It has been released every year without fail, but this year they are yet to release it even as just a week remains for Chaturthi. Lakhs of citizens attend Ganeshotsav. Last year, a senior police official told me that eight lakh people visited Girgaon Chowpatty in an hour'