BMC clears 2,702 Ganpati pandals across Mumbai ahead of festival

BMC had cleared 2,702 Ganpati mandals to erect pandals across Mumbai by Sunday morning, with some organisers still awaiting permissions on the eve of the festival.

Civic records show that 4,164 mandals applied, mostly for roadside installations, while 17 applications were pending with ward-level municipal commissioners. Nikhil Morye of Bal Mitra Mandal, which hosts Mithanagar Cha Raja, said five-year permissions have eased part of the process, but mandals must still apply because police no-objection certificates are routed through the BMC. Changes to an installation’s size can require fresh police clearance.

Ganpati immersions are scheduled to begin Tuesday. Additional municipal commissioner Avinash Dhakne inspected facilities and safety arrangements at Girgaum and Dadar chowpattys, Juhu beach and Powai Lake. The BMC has asked mandals to use its free cranes at immersion points.

More than 383 artificial ponds are ready for household Ganesh idols up to six feet high. At Shyam Talao in Jogeshwari, lower water levels may require taller idols to be taken to nearby immersion sites instead.