To ensure their convenience during late-night visits to pandals, Maharashtra’s Minister for Skill Development, Employment, and Innovation, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, has requested that local trains and metro services run late into the night during the festive period
Speaking at a public meeting, Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that he will follow up with railway and metro authorities regarding this request.
As Maharashtra’s most celebrated festival, Ganeshotsav 2025, nears, state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has urged authorities for late-night Mumbai local trains and metro services for devotees, an official statement said on Monday.
It said that the Ganpati festival attracts lakhs of devotees, many of whom travel to Mumbai from across the state. To ensure their convenience during late-night visits to pandals, Maharashtra’s Minister for Skill Development, Employment, and Innovation, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, has requested that local trains and metro services run late into the night during the festive period.
Speaking at a public meeting (Janata Darbar) held at the D Ward office in Grant Road area of Mumbai, Lodha said he will follow up with railway and metro authorities regarding this request.
“The Ganesh festival is celebrated on a grand scale in Mumbai and Maharashtra, and many devotees go for darshan late at night. Continuous public transport is crucial for their ease,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Janata Darbar received a great response from citizens, with over 2,000 complaints submitted both online and offline during five public meetings held in south Mumbai recently, the statement said.
It said that the officials from twelve departments, including MHADA, SRA, BMC, and the railways, were present to address the complaints on the spot.
The statement said that one major concern raised was related to the redevelopment and repair of old MHADA buildings. Lodha promised to look into the issue of temporary transit camps (called 'Sankraman Shibir') not being provided before issuing eviction notices.
He said he would soon meet with MHADA officials and suggest that no resident should be asked to vacate their home unless proper transit arrangements are in place.
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched an online single-window system to streamline the process of obtaining permissions for public Ganpati mandals to construct pandals across the city.
The initiative aims to make the procedure more efficient and accessible, while promoting eco-friendly celebrations.
The move comes after the Maharashtra government’s declared Ganeshotsav as the ‘State Festival of Maharashtra’.
From Monday, Ganpati mandals can apply for setting up mandap permissions and renewals via BMC’s official portal.
Ganeshotsav mandal organisers will no longer have to make separate visits to local police stations or traffic departments for obtaining no-objection certificates (NOCs) as these will be processed internally by the BMC under the guidance of Assistant Commissioners and Zonal Deputy Commissioners.
To facilitate the process, BMC has developed a user-friendly digital application system. Mandals can visit the official portal, click on the ‘Apply’ link under the ‘For citizens’ section, and choose the ‘Mandap (Public Ganeshotsav/Navratri/Other Festivals)’ option to begin their application.
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