More than 24,000 police personnel will be deployed across Mumbai for the immersion processions on Anant Chaturdashi, the tenth and final day of the Ganpati festival, scheduled for Tuesday, an official announced on Monday.

Drone surveillance will monitor key immersion sites, including Girgaon Chowpatty, Dadar, Bandra, Juhu, Versova, Powai Lake, and Madh Island. The police deployment includes nine additional commissioners, 40 deputy commissioners, and 56 assistant commissioners of police, ensuring citywide coverage to prevent any untoward incidents.

In anticipation of heavy traffic, as crowds gather to witness the processions, the police will establish a ‘green corridor’ to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles, particularly for essential and emergency services, ensuring connectivity between the city’s eastern and western suburbs. The Coastal Road will also remain open 24 hours to ease the burden.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Choudhary stated that the city police are on high alert to maintain law and order. Additional resources, including State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) platoons, Quick Response Teams (QRT), Riot Control Police (RCP), Delta forces, combat teams, home guards, and the Maharashtra Security Force, will support the effort.

With the help of over 8,000 CCTV cameras, police will maintain a strong vigil, prioritizing the safety of women and children in crowded areas. This heightened security will also remain in place for the Eid-E-Milad procession scheduled for Wednesday.

To ensure smooth traffic flow, over 2,500 traffic police personnel will be on duty. Traffic restrictions, one-way routes, and diversions will be in place on some roads. Old bridges on the Central and Western Railway lines, deemed dangerous, have prompted advisories to Ganesh mandals to take extra precautions and avoid crowding on these structures.

The police are coordinating with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) to keep local trains running throughout the night for the immersion day. Mumbaikars are urged to remain vigilant, avoid rumours, and contact the police in case of emergencies.

(With PTI inputs)