Nagpur police, civic body step up Ganesh immersion preparations

Preparations for the immersion of large Ganesh idols are in full swing in Nagpur, with the police and the municipal corporation tightening arrangements to ensure the festival concludes without disruption, overcrowding or security lapses. On Sunday, senior officials and elected representatives jointly inspected the city's major artificial immersion sites and reviewed arrangements for handling large idols and heavy crowds.

The inspection was led by MLA Vikas Thakre, Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil and Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar. The officials examined the preparedness of various departments at different immersion sites.

The inspection covered the artificial immersion sites at Police Line Takli, Gorewada, Koradi, Kolar and Kachi Visa Ground. Officials checked arrangements for the safe transport and immersion of large idols, crowd control, traffic management and emergency response.

Leader of the House Narendra Borkar was present during the inspection at Kachi Visa Ground, while MLA Vikas Thakre separately reviewed preparations at Police Line Takli.

The inspection also included Joint Commissioner of Police Navinchandra Reddy, Additional Commissioner Ankit, Traffic DCP Aditya Mirkhelkar and Chief Fire Officer Rajendra Uchke, along with several other senior police and civic officials.

Officials paid special attention to the lifting and routing of large idols, given the greater logistical challenges involved in their transport and immersion. They checked the availability and positioning of cranes, lighting arrangements, water levels, designated routes for idols and crowd control measures at the artificial ponds. Since processions carrying large idols put considerable pressure on roads around the immersion sites, advance traffic planning was considered essential.

The police and traffic department were directed to maintain strict deployment at immersion sites and ensure unhindered vehicle movement on surrounding roads. Designated routes were also reviewed so that large idols could reach immersion sites without getting stuck in traffic jams.

During the inspection, Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar found that smaller Ganesh idols from households were also being brought to the large artificial immersion ponds, adding to the crowding at sites primarily meant for large idols. He directed civic officials to set up more small local immersion ponds in neighbourhoods so that people would not need to travel to the large immersion centres for household idols. The aim is to disperse crowds and ease pressure on the city's major immersion sites.

Dr Itankar also directed that additional manpower and cranes be deployed wherever needed, and that all artificial immersion ponds maintain adequate water levels during immersion. Sufficient water and lifting equipment at sites receiving large idols was called particularly important, since manually lifting idols can pose a risk to both workers and devotees. Fire and emergency arrangements were also reviewed, and officials were asked to stay prepared to handle any untoward incident during the immersion crowds.

Special attention was given to Kachi Visa Ground, since immersion-related activity there risks affecting the existing sports facilities. Dr Itankar directed officials to ensure the ground's sports infrastructure and facilities remain fully protected during the immersion.

The joint inspection by the police, civic administration and elected representatives comes as Nagpur prepares for the busiest phase of Ganeshotsav. Officials have emphasised advance planning, spreading out immersion facilities, adequate equipment and coordinated traffic management to prevent the movement of large idols and devotees from turning into major jams or safety crises.