20 October,2026 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika Gondhalekar
A police officer tries to ensure that traffic moves smoothly during the immersion procession of the goddess in the Koldongri area of Andheri (East). Pic/Uday D Devrukhkar
Mumbai's Navratri idol immersions are increasingly beginning to resemble Ganesh visarjans in terms of scale, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ramping up arrangements across the city to manage the growing number of idols and ensure safe, environmentally responsible immersions.
The civic body has identified 34 natural water bodies and set up 158 artificial immersion ponds at 60 locations across Mumbai. At beaches, 117 steel plates have been installed to facilitate visarjan. The arrangements are aimed at ensuring a smooth immersion process while minimising the impact on the city's natural water bodies.
Manish Javanjal, a BMC official in charge of Navratri immersion arrangements, said, "Over the past four to five years, we have observed an increase in the number of Navratri idols being installed across Mumbai. It's feels like the scale of Navratri immersions is also gradually moving along the lines of Ganesh visarjan, and the civic body has to make adequate arrangements to manage the increasing footfall and ensure safety."
To manage crowds and prevent drowning incidents, the BMC will deploy 750 lifeguards and 30 motor boats. The civic body has also established 68 control rooms to coordinate immersion-related operations. Sanitation arrangements include 170 mobile toilets and 100 dumpers to manage waste generated during the festivities.
In a push towards sustainable celebrations, the BMC plans to retrieve all immersed idols within 24 hours of visarjan. "The solid waste management department will assist in collecting the idols and transporting them for recycling," said Javanjal.
34 natural water bodies
68 control rooms
30 motor boats
158 artificial ponds at 60 different locations across the city
117 steel plates at beaches for visarjan
750 lifeguards
170 mobile toilets
