24,000 cops to man streets as Mumbai gears up for Anant Chaturdashi on Sept 17
Mumbai is all set to celebrate Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the Ganpati festival, on September 17 with more than 24,000 police personnel deployed to ensure the safety and security of the city. The massive deployment will include nine additional commissioners of police, 40 deputy commissioners of police, and 56 assistant commissioners of police.
As the city prepares for the immersion processions, drone surveillance will be in place at key immersion sites such as Girgaon Chowpatty, Dadar, Bandra, Juhu, Versova, Powai Lake, and Madh Island. The police are leaving no stone unturned to prevent any untoward incidents during the festivities.
In addition to the local police force, State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) platoons, quick response teams (QRT), riots control police (RCP), delta, combat, home guards, and Maharashtra Security Force will also be part of the security arrangements. The police will maintain a strong vigil using more than 8,000 CCTVs, with a special focus on ensuring the safety of women and children in crowded places.
To ensure smooth movement of vehicles during the immersion processions, more than 2,500 traffic personnel will be deployed across the city. A ‘green corridor’ will be created to prevent traffic snarls and facilitate seamless movement of vehicles, especially for essential and emergency services.
Mumbaikars are advised to remain alert, not fall prey to rumors, and contact the police in case of an emergency. The joint commissioner of police (law and order) has assured that the city police are on high alert to prevent any law-and-order issues during the festival.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare emphasized the importance of coordination between various police forces and departments to ensure the safety of the public. He mentioned that local trains will be operational throughout the night on the day of immersion to facilitate transportation.
In light of the upcoming Eid-E-Milad procession scheduled for the following day, the police deployment will continue to remain in place. The Ganesh mandals have been advised to take precautionary measures while using old bridges on the Central and Western Railway lines and to avoid crowding on these bridges.
As Mumbai gears up for the grand celebrations of Anant Chaturdashi, the city police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety and security of its residents. With a massive deployment of over 24,000 police personnel and elaborate security arrangements in place, the authorities are prepared to handle any situation that may arise during the festivities. Let us all come together to celebrate this joyous occasion responsibly and safely.
