In a press release issued on Friday, the civic body said more than 25,000 officials and employees have been deployed at immersion sites. The arrangements include 1,194 steel plates, 23 German rafts, 34 cranes, 85 ambulances and 10 motorboats to ensure that the immersion process takes place smoothly.
The 67 natural immersion sites comprise 44 beaches and jetties and 23 natural lakes. The BMC has also arranged 498 nirmalya kalash, 326 nirmalya dumpers, 261 reception centres, 228 control rooms and 75 observation towers. A total of 1,132 lifeguards and 6,052 floodlights and searchlights will be deployed, along with 489 temporary toilets.
The civic administration has appealed to citizens to immerse Ganesh idols up to six feet in height in artificial ponds, in accordance with directions issued by the Bombay High Court. According to the BMC, the artificial ponds have been set up at 278 locations across Mumbai, while natural immersion sites have been equipped with various facilities for idols above six feet in height.
The BMC has also launched the ‘One Ganpati, One Tree’ initiative to promote tree conservation during the festival. Under the initiative, the civic body has resolved to plant as many trees as the number of Ganesh idols immersed in Mumbai.
The initiative was conceived by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and seeks to link the festival with environmental conservation by encouraging tree plantation and awareness among citizens.
Swaraajyabhoomi, also known as Chowpatty, is among the key immersion locations in Mumbai. The BMC has arranged 12 artificial ponds, 20 observation towers, 22 rafts, 90 toilets, 22 nirmalya kalash, a primary healthcare centre, 548 floodlights and 11 searchlights at the site.
Three ambulances and a workforce of around 1,000 personnel have also been deployed at Chowpatty.
Preparations have also been completed along the immersion routes. The BMC said cables causing obstructions at 281 locations have been removed, while 4,279 potholes at 506 locations and 171 drainage covers along the arrival and immersion routes have been repaired. Tree pruning has been carried out at 515 locations.
As part of its efforts to promote eco-friendly celebrations, the BMC said it has distributed more than 940 metric tonnes of shadu (clay) free of cost to idol makers so far. The civic body has also provided 25,400 litres of eco-friendly colours free of cost to idol makers for the 2026 festival.
The BMC's disaster management department has provided one-day first responder and emergency management training to at least eight to 10 volunteers from public Ganesh mandals.
The training covered crowd management, electrical accidents, fire emergencies and health-related emergencies during the festival. Volunteers were also given demonstrations on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The civic administration has also urged citizens to exercise caution while entering the sea during immersion, citing the presence of blue button jellyfish and stingrays along Mumbai's coastline. Citizens have been asked to follow instructions issued by the BMC and police administration during the immersion process.
The BMC said preparations have been completed across Mumbai under the guidance of Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr Avinash Dhakne.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone 2) and Ganeshotsav coordinator Prashant Sapkale appealed to citizens to participate in the festival in a safe, eco-friendly, clean and disciplined manner.
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