24 September,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
Constable Sagar Pawar and his horse Abhimanyu train at the Marol Police Camp. Pic/Satej Shinde
Over 24,000 police personnel will be on duty on Friday, September 25, when the city bids farewell to Bappa. According to police officials, this massive deployment - overseen by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti - includes 3213 officers, 18,940 constables, 1050 trainees, and a horse-mounted unit that will patrol beaches.
Mumbai Police officials had announced that the deployment of the horse-mounted unit would mark the first such crowd management operation during Anant Chaturdashi Ganesh visarjans. The move will provide elevated surveillance along soft-sand beachfronts where patrol vehicles struggle to navigate.
[popcorn number="17" desc="No of watchtowers set up at Girgaon" class="Default"]
Speaking with mid-day, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Manoj Kumar Sharma said, "The police officers went through rigorous training. A total of 22 horses were trained for horse-mounted patrolling, but how many will be fielded is still being finalised. All trained horse-riding officers will be useful for it."
Mounted police officers train at the Marol Police Camp ahead of Anant Chaturdashi, when they will patrol the city's beaches. Pic/Satej Shinde
Along with the officers, constables, and trainees, six Joint CPs, 9 Additional CPs, 38 DCPs, and 66 ACPs will be on duty on Friday. Specialised units - including the Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force, Force One, QRT, Anti-Drone squads, Anti-Terrorism Squad, and Riot Control - have been placed on alert.
Sharma added that modern technology will back field teams. "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and facial recognition are being deployed across vital spots to track crowds, locations, and pandal movements in real time, alongside our extensive CCTV network. More cranes, boats, and rafts have also been arranged at natural immersion shores like Girgaon, Juhu, Dadar, and Versova to expedite immersions," he said.
Traffic management across 67 natural spots and 383 artificial ponds is equally reinforced. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyanarayan Choudhary said, "Around 3500 traffic personnel, 250 officers, and 7000 NGO volunteers are deployed. Five temporary control rooms and 51 watchtowers - including 17 at Girgaon - feature display screens for real-time announcements and missing child alerts."
Choudhary added that 84 roads are closed to regular traffic, 20 routes made one-way, and heavy vehicles barred. Dedicated parking has been arranged at BPT grounds for Lalbaug-Parel, backed by round-the-clock traffic rider patrols and 95 hydraulic cranes to clear broken-down vehicles immediately. Police have urged citizens to stay alert and contact helplines 100 or 112 in case of emergencies.
