The number of sarvajanik mandals seeking BMC's permission to put up pandals has decreased by over one third this year. As compared to last year, only 63 per cent — 2,350 — mandals applied for permission. Of these, 1,820 applications have been approved, 256 rejected and 274 are being processed.

There are around 12,000 sarvajanik mandals that set up Ganpati pandals. After the high court made it mandatory to get permits for erecting pandals on the road, most shifted theirs to open spaces. Around 4,000 mandals usually apply for permits with last year's number being 3,718 and 2,737 getting the permissions.