Garba permissions in Ahmedabad remain pending for 81 city organisers, with fire safety clearances and other required documents yet to be completed just two days before Navratri, according to a report by Sandesh. In Ahmedabad’s rural police jurisdiction, only two of 18 applicants have received approval after meeting the required conditions.
The pending applications cover garba events planned at clubs, party plots and grounds within the Ahmedabad city police limits. The report said that none of the 81 city organisers had received final permission because fire safety requirements and supporting documentation were incomplete.
The delay places the approval process for large public gatherings at the centre of the festival preparations. Organisers must secure permissions from the police and local authorities before holding the events, while fire-related clearances form a key part of the documentation required for approval.
In the Ahmedabad rural police area, 18 organisers applied for permission. Two applications were approved after the organisers completed the applicable rules and paperwork. The remaining applications were still awaiting clearance, according to the report.
The permissions process is linked to the safety of players, visitors and other residents expected to attend the venues. Authorities have not relaxed the safety requirements, with fire NOCs and other documents being checked before applications can be cleared. The report said organisers whose applications remain pending are making repeated visits to government offices to complete the process.
The situation has created uncertainty for both organisers and attendees as the festival approaches. Organisers are waiting to learn whether their applications will be approved in time, while people planning to attend the events face uncertainty over which venues will receive final clearance.
The figures also show a difference between the two administrative jurisdictions. While the city police area had 81 applications with no final approvals reported, the rural police area had issued two approvals out of 18 applications after the required conditions were fulfilled. The report did not provide a consolidated figure for the number of pending fire NOCs or specify a final deadline for clearing the remaining applications.
For event organisers, the immediate requirement is to complete the missing safety documents and other paperwork. For authorities, the process involves reviewing those submissions before granting permission for events expected to draw large crowds. The report did not state whether any organiser had been formally denied permission or whether approved venues had been given operational conditions beyond the completion of the required documentation.
With Navratri due to begin in two days, the next step is the completion of fire safety and document checks by the concerned authorities. Final permissions will determine which of the proposed garba events can proceed in Ahmedabad city and the rural police jurisdiction.
