The police will leave nothing to chance during the 10-day Ganeshotsav. Keeping in mind the terror threat during the festival season, the police have planned the formation of a unit of Special Police Officers (SPOs) comprising retired police and army officers.

These voluntary teams will work as an auxiliary to the stretched city police force.

Police Commissioner Meeran Chadha Borwankar formally announced the plan on Saturday. Additional Police Commissioner of North Region Sanjay Latkar and South Region Prabhat Kumar will be in charge of the unit, Borwankar said. Besides SPOs, anti-sabotage teams, Quick Response teams, and bomb squads will be among the six special teams deployed, Borwankar said. "I assure you there will not be a repeat of 26/11-type attack," she added.

u00a0"We appeal to retired army and police officers to volunteer their services. They can approach the zonal offices of the police to enrol," Kumar said. "The SPO's appointed will be remunerated and accorded powers as per provisions under the Bombay Police Act."

Kumar said that in Zone I and II of police, the main city area, 136 surveillance cameras will be put in place.