Thane has 192 festival mandap applications awaiting civic clearance

Thane’s festival committees have 192 pending applications for temporary Dahi Handi and Ganeshotsav mandaps, even as Dahi Handi is three days away.

The Thane Municipal Corporation has approved 28 of 55 Dahi Handi applications submitted across its 10 ward committees, leaving 27 pending. Of the 174 Ganeshotsav applications received through August 31, only nine have been approved, with 165 still awaiting clearance.

The applications have arrived through both routes: 50 Dahi Handi applications were submitted offline and five through the civic portal. For Ganeshotsav, 111 applications were filed online and 63 offline.

Clearances vary by ward. Majiwada-Manpada received 33 Ganeshotsav applications — 13 online and 20 offline — but had issued no permissions. Lokmanya Nagar-Savarkar Nagar had also not cleared any of its 24 applications. In Vagle ward, six of 10 Dahi Handi applications were approved, while Diva had no clearances despite receiving applications.

Organisers need the permits to finalise stage construction, temporary electricity and local traffic coordination. TMC says safety audits, site inspections and traffic checks are under way, and that it is working to clear compliant files.