12,000 cops to guard city for Bappa Tuesday

Mumbai: On the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi, which marks the last of Ganesh Chaturthi, 8,000 city police officers and 4,000 traffic police officers will be deployed across various beaches, which will be thronged by lakhs of devotees to ensure the day passes in an orderly and peaceful manner. Around 53 roads in the city and suburbs will be closed on Tuesday for the immersion processions, said police sources.

Mumbai police commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar personally visited Girgaum Chowpatty on Monday afternoon to take stock of all the arrangements. Along with the Mumbai police, special teams like the State Reserve Police Force, riot control police, quick response team and teams of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) will be deployed to tackle possible terrorist threats. Around 900 women constables will also be deployed to keep a tab on the criminal activities against women.

The police has also arranged for naka bandis (security checks) at various points like Lalbaug and Dadar’s Shivaji Park where heavy and suspicious vehicles will be checked.

The police has set up watchtowers and is putting up signboards to warn Ganesh devotees not to enter deep waters, and have kept coastguards, boats and launches ready with divers to help in case of any emergency.

In Mumbai, beaches such as Girgaum Chowpatty, Shivaji Park Chowpatty, Badi Masjid in Bandra, Juhu Chowpatty, Versova beach and Ganesh Ghat in Powai are the main spots that will see at least over 10,000 ‘sarvajanik’ ganpati visarjans and over 15,000 ‘gharguti’ Ganesh idol visarjans. Major Ganesh mandals like Lalbaugcha Raja and Ganesh Gallicha Ganpati will start their processions at 10 am.