The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to temporarily remove the divider on Marine Drive and N.A. Purandare Road ahead of Anant Chaturdashi to ensure smoother movement, better crowd management and prevent any stampede-like situation. The decision comes as lakhs of devotees are expected to gather at Girgaon Chowpatty for the immersion of Ganesh idols.
Anant Chaturdashi, which falls on September 25 this year, marks the conclusion of the Ganesh festival. Girgaon Chowpatty is one of the most popular Ganesh idol immersion sites in South Mumbai, attracting thousands of devotees every year. To manage the heavy crowds and ensure a safe and peaceful immersion process, the BMC has once again decided to remove the divider from the stretch of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road (Marine Drive) to N.A. Purandare Road.
It was pointed out to the BMC that many participants tend to stand on or between the divider while watching the immersion procession, posing a serious safety risk. In such a large crowd, if a person slips or loses balance, it could trigger panic and lead to a stampede. Following consultations with the concerned authorities and the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), the decision to remove the divider during the immersion period was first taken in 2025, and the measure will now be repeated this year.
In 2023, the BMC had installed barricades along Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road from Marine Drive towards the Prince Street flyover and up to Girgaon Chowpatty to prevent people from crossing the road or standing on the divider. The move followed a survey by the Marine Drive Traffic Division, which recommended several measures to improve pedestrian safety and reduce the risk of accidents along the stretch.
The civic body believes that temporarily removing the divider during the immersion period will help improve crowd movement, ease congestion and allow emergency services to respond more efficiently if required.
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