The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is working closely with the traffic and police department to ensure peaceful processions of Lord Ganesha across the metropolis as the ten-day revelry culminates today with immersion of the elephant-headed God.
The civic body has arranged for 6,000 volunteers, 500 lifeguards, 59 motorboats, over 60 first-aid stations and ambulances besides 15 mobile toilets at all immersion sites, BMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kishore Kshirsagar said.
"We have arranged these dispensaries to treat medical emergencies," he said.
Traffic control rooms, search lights and watch towers have been put up at five main immersion spots -- Girgaum Chowpatty, Shivaji Park Chowpatty, Bandra Bandstand, Juhu Chowpatty and Powai.
Also, there will be 37 watch towers at other locations to regulate traffic and processions, Kshirsagar said.
Several NGOs including United Way and Clean Mumbai Foundation among others joined BMC's efforts to keep beaches clean during the immersion.
"Our idea is to hold back flowers and other miscellaneous items from being dumped into the sea while idols are being immersed. The offerings will be segregated in different bags -- flowers and fruits in white bags, plastic material in black bags and other material in blue bags," Kunti Oza from Clean Mumbai Foundation said.
Last year, around 1.87 lakh idols were immersed and the number is expected to increase this year. Security here has also been stepped up in wake of the immersion processions.