Mumbai: BMC sets up multi-agency emergency control room at Girgaum Chowpatty for Anant Chaturdashi

For the first time this year the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has operationalised a dedicated Emergency Management Control Room at Girgaum Chowpatty to coordinate the response of multiple agencies during Ganesh visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi on FridayThe control room at Swarajyabhoomi will bring together officials from the BMCrsquos Disaster Management Cell Mumbai Police Fire Brigade Health Department BEST the National Disaster Response Force NDRF and HAM radio operators for quick coordination in case of an emergencyThe move comes as the civic body prepares for one of Mumbairsquos busiest immersion days with lakhs of devotees expected at Girgaum ChowpattyThe D Ward will also monitor live CCTV feeds from the Chowpatty area through screens installed at the control room Two drones have been deployed to provide realtime information on any untoward incident during immersion The cell will coordinate with police fire health coastal security agencies and other departments during the visarjan processEvent agency handles logistics BMC handles emergenciesmidday had earlier reported that the BMC appointed a dedicated event management firm for the Girgaum Chowpatty immersionThe agency is handling eventrelated logistics such asgtgt Seating arrangements for dignitariesgtgt Public address systemgtgt Lineup of incoming idolsgtgt Crowdmanagement supportgtgt Other arrangements at the venueEmergency response however remains with the civic administration and its emergency agenciesAuthorities at Girgaum Chowpatty on Thursday making final preparations for Anant Chaturdashi PicAshish RajeOfficial SpeakldquoThe municipal administration is fully prepared to manage the crowds of lakhs of devotees visiting the site Girgaum Devotees citizens and researchers from across the country and abroad visit to witness the immersion ceremony Special precautions have been taken to ensure that devotees do not face any inconveniencerdquo a BMC statement saidZone 3 plan 182 public idols 14365 household idols set for immersionThane police have deployed senior officers police personnel Home Guards and two SRPF platoons across Zone 3 for Anant Chaturdashi Thane police have stepped up security across Zone 3 Kalyan for Anant Chaturdashi on Friday with 2 DCPs 4 ACPs 25 police inspectors 80 APIsPSIs 795 police personnel 160 Home Guards and two SRPF platoons deployed for bandobast According to the Zone 3 deployment plan 182 public Ganpati idols and 14365 household idols are scheduled for immersion across the zonePreparations underway at Juhu ahead of Anant Chaturdashi PicShadab KhanWhy the sixfoot rule mattersThe BMCrsquos immersion arrangements also follow the Bombay High Courtrsquos directions on idol immersionIdols up to six feet in height must be immersed in artificial water bodies while idols above six feet can be immersed at designated natural water bodies The High Court kept the rule in force for the 2026 festival season pending its final decision in the related PILTraining ahead of the big dayD Ward officers and staff were trained on Thursday on how to respond to emergencies at ChowpattyThe training covered situations includinggtgt Fire in a pandalgtgt Drowning incidentsgtgt Other emergencies during the immersion processThe exercise was aimed at ensuring that staff know their roles and the response process before the main immersion dayCitywide immersion numbersThe BMC has prepared 383 artificial ponds at 278 locations across Mumbai and arrangements at 67 natural immersion sites The latter include 44 beaches and jetties and 23 natural lakesQuick view383 artificial ponds278 locations with artificial ponds67 natural immersion sites44 beaches and jetties23 natural lakes1132 lifeguards228 control rooms75 observation towers1194 steel plates23 German rafts34 cranes85 ambulances10 motorboats498 nirmalya kalash326 nirmalya dumpers489 temporary toilets25000 civic personnel deployed across immersion arrangementsWhat happens at ChowpattyArrangement NumberArtificial ponds 12Observation towers 20Rafts 22Temporary toilets 90Ambulances 3Personnel Around 1000The BMC has also arranged lighting drinking water first aid security crowdmanagement measures and machinery and manpower for idol immersion The civic body said it has taken special precautions at the site which attracts devotees citizens and visitors from across the country and abroad