More drones to help cops man visarjan points effectively

While making elaborate security arrangements for the 11-day Ganesh festival set to begin on September 5, the city police said they will use more drones this time for minute detailing.

The Mumbai Police, who have chalked out an elaborate security plan for the 11-day Ganeshotsav starting September 5, said more drones will be used this year to effectively monitor and control crowd at major immersion points on the visarjan day.

Commissioner of police (CP) Datta Padsalgikar has reviewed the entire bandobast, said Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Deven Bharti during a press conference, adding that there were no specific terror alert for the upcoming festive period.

Commenting on the use of drones, Bharti said, “This time, we will use more drones, as last time they turned out to be very helpful. I can’t mention the number, but they [drones] will be used to monitor important immersion points at Shivaji Park, Girgaum, Juhu and Malwani. Feeds from these drones will be monitored in our control rooms for effective crowd controlling and getting minute details.”

He said that all senior officials — from inspectors to additional commissioners — have conducted meetings with 6,000 Ganesh mandals and briefed them on what security measures they must deploy and the Bombay high court directives they must not violate.