Mumbai Police issues traffic guidelines for Ganesh festival

Police on Monday said traffic restrictions will be in place in different parts of Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations starting from September 19, but there will be no curbs on vehicles supplying essential commodities. 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, a traffic department official said. There shall be complete restriction on movement of all types of heavy vehicles and private buses in south Mumbai on September 21, 24, 26 and 29, said the official. In Greater Mumbai, there shall be complete restriction on movement of heavy vehicles and private buses from 1100 hours to 0100 hours the next day on September 20, 23 and 25, 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 authorised pay lots, he said.