Mumbai Deploys 24,000-Plus Police for Ganesh Visarjan, Announces Traffic Curbs

Mumbai is set to bring the curtain down on Ganeshotsav with Anant Chaturdashi immersions on Friday, September 25, 2026, backed by one of the city's largest annual security deployments. The festival began on September 14.

Security blanket across the city

More than 24,000 police personnel will be posted across Mumbai to keep the final immersion processions peaceful and orderly. The plan, drawn up under the guidance of the Commissioner of Police and supervised by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), includes six Joint Commissioners, nine Additional Commissioners, 38 Deputy Commissioners, 66 Assistant Commissioners, 3,213 police officers, 18,940 constables and 1,050 police trainees.

Specialised units will be stationed at key and sensitive locations, among them the Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force, Force One, Quick Response Teams, Law & Order platoons, Riot Control Squads, Delta and Combat units, anti-drone squads and Home Guards.

Authorities have asked citizens to stay alert in crowded areas and cooperate with police personnel. Devotees have been urged to report unattended or unidentified objects and to dial 100, 112 or 103 in an emergency.

Traffic plan and JVLR curbs

Traffic arrangements have been framed under the supervision of the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic). Officials noted that vehicles are often parked near immersion ghat entrances, on service roads and along the northbound and southbound lanes of the JVLR during immersion days, which can choke the stretch, obstruct ambulances and fire tenders and create law-and-order problems.

In the Sakinaka Traffic Division, no-parking restrictions will apply to all vehicle types on both directions of the JVLR between the L&T Flyover and IIT Market Gate. In the Ghatkopar Traffic Division, heavy vehicles will be barred from both carriageways of the JVLR. Such vehicles coming from the Eastern Express Highway must continue along that highway, and those approaching from the Western Express Highway must stay on it.

Lalbaug-Kalachowki closures

With heavy crowds expected in Lalbaug and Kalachowki through September 25, several roads will remain closed for 24 hours from September 14 to September 25.

Southbound traffic on Dr. B.A. Road will not be permitted between Comrade Krishna Desai Chowk (Bharat Mata Junction) and Hansraj Rathod Chowk (Bawla Compound Junction). Motorists heading towards CSMT can use the Lalbaug flyover, or turn right at Bharat Mata Junction via Currey Road Bridge, Shingate Master Chowk, N.M. Joshi Road, Chinchpokali Junction, Khada Parsee and on to South Mumbai. A second option is to turn left at Bharat Mata Junction and proceed via Jijibhai Lane, Sadashiv Gopal Naik Chowk, Shree Sai Baba Marg, Sai Baba T Junction, G.D. Ambekar Slip Road, the Veterinary College Gate, G.D. Ambekar Road, Ambewadi Naka, Shravan Yashwant Chowk, Barrister Nath Pai Road and P.D. Mello Road.

Mahadeo Palav Marg (Currey Road) will be shut between Shingate Master Chowk and Bharat Mata Junction; the alternative runs via N.M. Joshi Marg, Chinchpokali Junction, Saint Jagnade Maharaj Chowk (Gas Company Junction) and Bharat Mata Junction. Vehicles on Sane Guruji Marg will not be allowed to turn right towards southbound Dr. B.A. Road at Gas Company Junction.

Other closures include Dattaram Lad Road from Udipi Hotel to Shantaram Pujare Chowk (Sardar Hotel); Ganesh Nagar Lane (Chivda Galli) from Dr. B.A. Road to Madhav Prabhu Chowk (Puja Hotel Junction); Dinshaw Petit Lane between Dr. B.A. Road and Ganesh Nagar Lane; and Dr. S.S. Rao Road from Sadashiv Gopal Naik Chowk to Lalbaug Police Chowki.

Emergency vehicles and residents' vehicles will be allowed on Ganesh Nagar Lane, Dinshaw Petit Lane and Dr. S.S. Rao Road after verification, but no vehicles will be permitted on Dattaram Lad Marg.

No-parking zones

Parking will be prohibited for 24 hours from September 14 to September 25 on both directions of Dr. B.A. Road between Bharat Mata Junction and Bawla Compound Junction, as well as on Sane Guruji Marg, Dattaram Lad Marg, Ganesh Nagar Lane, Dinshaw Petit Lane, Barrister Nath Pai Road (Albert Junction to Shrawan Yashwante Chowk), G.D. Ambekar Road, Dr. S.S. Rao Road, Anant Malvankar Marg, Shree Sai Baba Marg, T.B. Kadam Road, Dattaram Khamkar Marg, Tanaji Malusare Marg, Jijibhai Lane and Mahadeo Palav Marg.

Firecracker and DJ curbs

Mayor Ritu Tawde said the civic administration will follow the Bombay High Court's directives on DJs, lasers and firecrackers during immersion processions. The court said on Tuesday that festivals can be celebrated without noise and air pollution, ordered a complete ban on bursting firecrackers on public roads and described the use of loudspeakers, DJs and laser beams in religious processions as completely unwarranted.

The Mayor added that free immersion facilities have been arranged at 387 artificial lakes and other water bodies across Mumbai, and urged citizens not to pay anyone for using them.