The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has cleared 2,702 Ganpati pandals across Mumbai, while 17 applications remain pending with ward-level municipal commissioners as the city prepares for immersions from Tuesday. The permissions cover installations for the festival, with most applications relating to pandals proposed along roads.
A total of 4,164 mandals applied for permission, according to civic records. The number of approved mandals is expected to rise marginally as some applications may be cleared at the last minute. This year’s approved figure is almost on par with last year’s number, the report said.
The permission process involves multiple agencies. Although the BMC has begun granting five-year permissions to mandals, organisers are still required to apply because police no-objection certificates are routed through the civic body. Fresh police clearance may also be required when a mandal increases the size of its installation.
Nikhil Morye of Bal Mitra Mandal, which hosts the Mithanagar Cha Raja, said the BMC had taken steps to streamline the process but that delays continued in some cases. He said police verification could take longer than expected, leaving organisers uncertain close to the festival.
Naresh Dahibhavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said police personnel were often stretched by VVIP movements in the period leading up to the festival. He said permissions should be processed well in advance to prevent a last-minute rush, while acknowledging the other responsibilities being handled by the police.
The permissions issue comes as the civic administration reviews arrangements at major immersion locations. Additional municipal commissioner Avinash Dhakne inspected Girgaum Chowpatty and Dadar Chowpatty in the island city, Juhu beach in the western suburbs and Powai Lake in the eastern suburbs on Sunday.
During the inspection, Dhakne directed officials to inform mandals that the BMC provides cranes free of charge at immersion sites for Ganesh idols. The civic administration is encouraging organisers to use the equipment as part of its arrangements for the immersion period.
The BMC has also prepared more than 383 artificial ponds for the immersion of household Ganesh idols measuring up to six feet. These facilities are intended to provide additional options for household immersions and manage pressure on the city’s larger water bodies and beaches.
However, organisers have raised concerns about water levels at some immersion points. Dahibhavkar said the level at Shyam Talao in Jogeshwari had decreased, which could make it difficult to immerse taller idols. Such idols may therefore have to be taken to other nearby immersion sites this year.
The civic administration’s next steps are to process the remaining applications, complete site-level preparations and coordinate equipment and safety arrangements ahead of immersions beginning Tuesday.
