Navi Mumbai police are preparing a traffic and coordination plan for Ganesh idol immersions at Vashi Creek after large idols from Mumbai were expected to draw crowds and vehicles to the area during the festival. The police held a coordination meeting on Tuesday with representatives of Ganesh mandals in the Vashi division to discuss permissions, traffic management, parking, utilities and noise control.
The meeting was conducted under Zone One of the Navi Mumbai Police. Joint Commissioner Deepak Sakore asked Ganesh mandals to cooperate with the police and follow traffic arrangements and noise pollution rules during the festival. The police said coordination with Mumbai-based mandals would be necessary because some of the larger idols from Mumbai are immersed in the Vashi Creek area.
According to the report, congestion on major roads in Vashi during the immersion period is a significant concern for the police. The movement of large numbers of vehicles towards the creek is expected to slow traffic, while the available road space and parking capacity are limited in comparison with the number of vehicles that may arrive during the festival.
Parking has therefore emerged as a specific area of concern in the police planning. Officials said parking would have to be arranged in a way that does not obstruct traffic. The report did not specify the locations of parking areas, diversion routes, road closures or the timing of any restrictions.
Representatives of the Ganesh mandals also raised several administrative and logistical issues at the meeting. These included delays in obtaining the permissions required for the festival, mandap construction, electricity supply, matters connected with the City and Industrial Development Corporation, and water supply. The police assured the organisers that they would coordinate with the relevant departments to resolve these issues at the earliest.
To simplify communication between organisers and the administration, the police plan to appoint personnel under an “one Ganpati, one employee” coordination arrangement. The assigned personnel are expected to help mandals contact the administration when they face difficulties during preparations.
Sakore said mandals, public representatives and citizens had cooperated with the police during the Dahi Handi festival. He appealed to the organisers to extend similar cooperation during Ganeshotsav, particularly on traffic management and compliance with noise pollution regulations.
The police said further planning would focus on coordinating with Mumbai’s Ganesh mandals and the departments responsible for permissions, utilities and civic facilities. Specific traffic diversions, parking arrangements and implementation timings were not detailed in the report.
