Security intensified for 'Ganeshotsav' festival in Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 2 (UNI) On the heels of serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, the police have made elaborate security arrangements across the city for the incident-free celebration of 10-day 'Ganeshotsav' festival, commencing tomorrow.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K L Prasad told mediapersons here today that ten companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) would be deployed in the city during the 10-day festival. A special arrangement has also been made for the wireless van to reach the spot within seven minutes of eventuality, if any. These vans would be monitored by the main control room.

The department had already held several rounds of meetings with office-bearers of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandals and asked them to to assign their volunteers for maintenance of security and seperate queues for devotees who come for taking blessing of lord Ganesha, he stated.

Mr Prasad said ''we have already asked the big mandals to instal CCTV cameras and metal detectors.'' The Lalbaug Cha Raja mandal has come up with a novel concept of an SMS alert to inform the devotees about the status of queue. For this, the devotees have to type 'START RAJA' space 'your nearest railway station' and send it to 9845298452. Once registered, they will get regular updates on the Lalbaugcha Raja. Similarly, they would also receive updates on the progress of the 'visarjan' (immersion) procession. Being the diamond jubilee (75th) year, the Mandal has insured devotees for Rs 1.5 crore and had already paid the premimum to the insurance company.

UNI ST SSS RL AS1413