Nagpur deploys 6,250 police, 2,858 CCTV cameras and drones for Ganesh immersion

As Ganeshotsav 2026 draws to a close, Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr Vishwas Nangare Patil has put in place tight security arrangements across the city ahead of the immersion processions. With large crowds expected during the processions, the traffic, fire and disaster management departments have also been put on alert along with the police. According to the commissioner, maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of devotees have both been given top priority.

This year, 1,702 public Ganesh mandals have been registered in the city, 140 more than last year. In addition, about 2,04,000 Ganesh idols have been installed in homes. Crowd pressure is expected to be correspondingly higher.

Areas including CA Road, Futala Road, Koradi Road, Itwari Road, Mahal, Jafar Nagar, Cotton Market, the Gandhi Nagar-Jafar Nagar area and Bhandewadi have been placed under special police watch. Extra forces will be deployed to manage crowds and traffic in these areas, and officers have been directed to patrol continuously.

An estimated 361 idols will be immersed at Gorewada, 42 at the Police Line Takli pond, 612 at Nanda Koradi, 62 at Kachiwisa and 104 at Mahadev Ghat. Around 512 more idols are expected to be immersed in artificial immersion ponds set up by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The administration has appealed to people to immerse idols only at designated spots. Some mandals have also changed their route this year, choosing Gorewada and the Police Line Takli pond instead of the Koradi pond, so as not to add pressure on traffic.

Heavy vehicles will be barred from entering the city from 8 pm to midnight on September 25 and 26, 2026. Three stretches will be under traffic control: Agyaram Devi Chowk to Ganesh Temple Cutting, Model Mill Chowk to Maulana Natiq Chowk, and Tilak Putala Chowk to Ganesh Temple Cutting. Traffic from Model Mill Chowk will be diverted towards Ramkulur and Jadhav Chowk, and traffic from Agyaram Devi Chowk will be diverted towards Jadhav Chowk and Raman Science Park.

About 70 percent of the police commissionerate's force, a total of 6,250 personnel, has been deployed for the arrangements. This includes 1 police commissioner, 1 additional police commissioner, 3 joint commissioners of police, 11 deputy commissioners of police, 15 assistant commissioners of police, 87 police inspectors and 374 assistant police inspectors and sub-inspectors. On the ground, 4,330 police personnel, including 420 trainees, and 1,266 home guards will be deployed. A company of the State Reserve Police Force, four riot control squads, four quick response teams and three bomb disposal squads will also be on standby. Police in plain clothes will be deployed as well.

Surveillance will be maintained through 2,858 CCTV cameras linked to the command and control centre. Five mobile surveillance vans and drones will also be deployed. Police teams will be alerted immediately if crowds build up unexpectedly anywhere.

For emergencies, 31 fire tenders have been kept ready across 12 fire stations, along with 13 disaster management squads. Social media is also being monitored; 771 posts and videos have been checked so far, of which action has been taken on 13 objectionable posts. Loudspeaker use will have to follow the time limits set by court and government directions. Arrangements have also been made to maintain proper distance between mandals during the processions.

A crackdown on criminals has already been carried out. So far, 766 criminals with records, 413 externed accused and 705 history-sheeters have been screened, of whom preventive action has been taken against 885. Notices were issued to 1,450 people, of whom 51 were taken into custody, illegal weapons were recovered from 22 accused, and a search is on for 118 absconding accused. Seven crimes were recorded during immersion last year, in 2025; to prevent a repeat, temporary action has been taken against 1,010 offenders under Section 163 of the BNSS.

Commissioner Dr Vishwas Nangare Patil has appealed to mandals and citizens to follow police and administration guidelines, immerse idols only at designated spots, cooperate with traffic arrangements and not believe any rumours. He has also asked people not to share inflammatory or misleading posts on social media and to immediately inform police of any suspicious activity.

In an emergency, people can contact the cyber police station on 0712-2584377, the police control room on 0712-2561222, or the emergency helpline 112.