Mumbai, More than 24,000 police personnel will be on Mumbai’s streets on Friday to ensure that Ganesh immersion processions remain peaceful, while the BMC has made elaborate arrangements with 67 natural immersion sites and 383 artificial lakes, officials said.
The Mumbai Police have appealed to citizens to exercise restraint in crowded places and cooperate with on-duty personnel. The BMC has urged citizens to exercise caution while entering the sea for immersion and follow instructions of civic and police authorities, particularly in view of the presence of blue-button jellyfish and stingrays along the coastline. A massive security blanket involving over 24,000 personnel, including 6 Joint Commissioners of Police, 9 Additional Commissioners of Police, 38 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 66 Assistant Commissioners of Police, will be deployed across the megalopolis, the police said. Devotees have been urged to alert the police if they spot any unclaimed or suspicious objects and to call emergency helplines 100 or 112 for immediate assistance, the officials added.
The Mumbai Traffic Police have issued comprehensive traffic advisories and imposed key restrictions across major corridors, including the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road , Lalbaug, and Kalachowki, to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and for public safety, officials said. Specialised units, including the Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force, Force One, Quick Response Teams, Law & Order platoons, Riot Control Squads, Delta and Combat units, and Anti-Drone squads will also be positioned at key and sensitive locations, they said. Citing Bombay High Court directions, the BMC said Ganpati idols up to six feet in height are required to be immersed in artificial lakes.
