Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja Stands Tall, Security Upped In City; Traffic Curbs in Noida Also – News18

Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: The 10-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav celebrations began on Tuesday. The popular Hindu festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha, the deity of wisdom, prosperity, and good luck. The festival is celebrated with great fervor in various parts of the country, but it holds special significance in Mumbai, where ‘pandals’ with gigantic Ganesha statues are set up in multiple parts of the city. This year, the festival is being celebrated from September 19 to September 29, 2023.

In view of the festivities, Mumbai Police has put up traffic restrictions across different parts of the city during the 10-day long celebrations starting today. A large number of people are expected to be on the streets visiting various pandals, including the famous Lalbaugcha Raja, during the festivities. To avoid any law and order situation, more than 13,750 police personnel have been deployed in Mumbai for security during the period.

Idol immersion processions, which take place on different days of the festival starting from the second day attract massive crowds of devotees as people from all over the city and also outside come to witness the grand event, leading to a surge in pedestrian and vehicular traffic, which may be aggravated by plying of heavy vehicles and private buses.

Therefore, some traffic arrangements have been made for heavy vehicles and private buses from September 19 to 29. However, police has put no curbs on vehicles supplying essential commodities.

Traffic Restrictions In Mumbai

• There shall be a complete restriction on the movement of all types of heavy vehicles and private buses in south Mumbai on September 21, 24, 26, and 29, said an official.
• On other days between September 19 and 29, heavy vehicles are allowed to ply in south Mumbai between 12:00 midnight to 7:00 am in the morning, he said.
• In Greater Mumbai (except for areas under south Mumbai), there shall be complete restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles and private buses from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day on September 20, 23, and 25.
• Further, there will be restrictions on movement of these vehicles on September 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 a.m. the next day.
• However, essential service-providing vehicles such as those supplying vegetables, milk, bakery products, drinking water, petroleum products, ambulances, government and semi-government vehicles and school buses are exempted from restrictions, said the official.
• All private buses entering and leaving Mumbai and heavy vehicles, including the ones exempted from curbs, shall only be parked at their privately owned spaces or rented spaces or on authorized pay lots, he said adding that parking of these vehicles on roads shall be totally prohibited.
• More than 13,750 police personnel, comprising 11,726 constables, 2,024 officers from the rank of sub-inspector to assistant commissioner, and 15 deputy commissioners, have been deployed in Mumbai for security during Ganesh festivities.

Delhi

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is distributing eco-friendly idols of Lord Ganesha to people to spread the message of environmental conservation. Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Monday flagged off a van carrying such idols ahead of the Ganesh Chaturhi festival from the Civic Centre in Delhi.

“These eco-friendly idols are made of coconut bark and clay. A seed has been placed in the middle of the idol. When it is immersed, the idol will be mixed with the soil. The seed mixed in the soil will take the form of a plant in a few days,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.

The MCD and ‘Big Green Ganesha’ have launched eco-friendly Ganesha idols in the city to spread the message of environmental conservation. The idols will be delivered to the people through zonal offices of all the zones of MCD.

Noida/ Greater Noida

Ahead of the festive season kicking start with Ganesh Chaturhi, authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida and Greater Noida have imposed Section 144 in the cities to prevent any unlawful assembly, unauthorised public event, or procession.

As per the order, the assembly of five or more people is barred in the cities without permission from the commissioner of police, additional commissioner of police, and deputy commissioners of police. People are also not allowed to join such a group without permission.z

A restriction has also been imposed on operating private drones in a one-kilometer radius above and around government offices. Using drones for photography or videography in other places without permission has also been barred during this period.