Hindustan Times 16.09.2010
The traffic police have asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to ensure that the roads Ganpati processions use on the main visarjan day (September 22) are pothole-free. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vivek Phansalkar said: “Poor road conditions can pose problems for the processions. Even a single such instance can result in traffic snarls.”
In order to ensure smooth vehicular and pedestrian movement, many of the 105 immersion spots have been equipped with watchtowers to track processions from a distance.
Phansalkar said: “At five or six important immersion spots, such as Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu, Bandra and Shivaji Park, and at 33 other spots, we will have a strong presence on September 16, 17 and 22 — all visarjan days.”
The traffic police have earmarked 24 roads that will be shut for vehicular traffic; 47 roads, including P D’Mello Road and NM Joshi Marg, will have only one-way traffic.
Heavy vehicles, such as trucks, will be banned on 10 roads; 40 roads will have parking restrictions.
The traffic police have asked for help from voluntary organisations such as the Civil Defence, Home Guards and National Cadet Corps. In all, there will be 8,500 personnel on duty.
“We have also arranged for 70 ambulances to be deployed across the city to take care of injuries and mishaps,” said Phansalkar
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Nandkumar Chougule said: “Every Ganesh mandal has been asked to install CCTVs for security. We have also installed 67 CCTVs at important junctions to monitor traffic. We will also use SMS to guide motorists.”
