# Mumbai traffic curbs as Ganesh visarjan begins 2026-09-25T11:41:40+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Mumbai is observing extensive traffic restrictions on Friday as Ganesh visarjan processions take place across the city on Anant Chaturdashi. The Mumbai Traffic Police have announced road closures, diversions, and one-way arrangements in South Mumbai, the western suburbs, and the eastern suburbs. Motorists have been advised to use the Mumbai Coastal Road where possible and avoid non-essential travel on affected routes. More than 24,000 police personnel and 25,000 civic staff have been deployed, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The BMC has arranged artificial ponds, lifeguards, and medical teams at immersion sites. Devotees have been urged to use designated immersion points and exercise caution near the sea due to blue-button jellyfish and stingrays. After the processions, the BMC faces a waste-management challenge. In 2025, the civic body collected around 200,000 Ganesh idols weighing 2,500 tonnes. The cost of collection, transportation, and storage was around Rs 75 lakh, and this year's cost is estimated to be 20-25% higher. The BMC has issued an Expression of Interest for processing recovered Plaster of Paris material, with a deadline of September 29. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The Economic Times frames the visarjan as the start of a waste-management problem, detailing costs and recycling hurdles. Hindustan Times leads with traffic restrictions, a practical civic guide. National Herald focuses on devotional atmosphere and crowd scenes, quoting chants and flower showers. The critical framing from ET highlights the BMC's unfinished recycling infrastructure, while the other two outlets report on smooth arrangements. The key difference: ET reports a pending challenge (EoI deadline September 29), while the others report a day in progress. Together, they show a festival managed logistically but with an unresolved environmental after-effect. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Led with traffic advisory, no evaluation of government - nationalheraldindia.com (neutral report) Focus on devotional atmosphere and police deployment - economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Led with recycling challenge, no criticism of BMC Tags: BMC, Ganesh Chaturthi, Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai, Mumbai Traffic Police Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/mumbai-ganesh-visarjan-traffic-restrictions-24000-police-deployed/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/mumbai-ganesh-visarjan-traffic-restrictions-24000-police-deployed/#story-in-brief