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The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has begun preparations for the 2026 Ganeshotsav, with the civic administration urging residents and Ganesh mandals to adopt environment-friendly and plastic-free celebrations. A coordination meeting involving the civic body, police, other authorities and representatives of more than 75 Ganesh mandals was held at the NMMC headquarters ahead of the festival, which begins on September 14. The administration has outlined measures covering traffic, parking, road repairs, immersion routes, water conservation, waste segregation and public safety. More than 150 artificial immersion ponds are being created, while a single-window system will facilitate permissions for public celebrations without charging mandals any permission fee. The civic body will also organise the Navi Mumbai Mayor Ganesh Darshan Competition 2026, including categories encouraging smaller idols and household celebrations.
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has initiated preparations for the 2026 Ganeshotsav by calling on citizens and Ganesh mandals to observe the festival in an environment-friendly and plastic-free manner. The festival will begin across the city on September 14, while a preparatory coordination meeting involving the NMMC, police, other authorities and representatives of more than 75 Ganesh mandals was held on August 26 at the civic headquarters.
The meeting, chaired by Navi Mumbai Mayor Sujata Patil, focused on arrangements required for the festival, including public safety, traffic management, road maintenance, immersion routes, water supply, waste management and permissions for public celebrations. Patil asked citizens and mandals to use the festival to promote environmentally responsible decorations and activities related to health and cultural awareness.
The mayor directed officials to establish a dedicated telephone number through which citizens could seek assistance during the festival and contact the relevant authorities. She also called for priority to be given to road repairs and painting of speed-breaker markings. Parking arrangements were to be planned to manage increased visitor movement and avoid traffic congestion. Authorities were also instructed to plan immersion procession routes, prune tree branches along these routes and ensure that overhead cables did not obstruct processions.
With Morbe Dam currently 93% full, Patil announced that the ongoing water cuts would be withdrawn from Gokulashtami to avoid inconvenience to citizens, particularly women, during the festival period. She nevertheless urged residents to avoid wastage and use water responsibly, while asking Ganesh mandals to spread awareness about water conservation.
The NMMC will also hold the Navi Mumbai Mayor Ganesh Darshan Competition 2026 to encourage public Ganesh mandals. A separate category has been introduced for household celebrations. To discourage competition based on idol height, the civic body will offer a special award titled ‘Mooorti Lahan Pan Bhavna Mahan’ for public mandals installing smaller idols.
Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde urged mandals to keep celebrations plastic-free and make greater use of the NMMC's single-window system for obtaining permissions. No fee will be charged to mandals for these permissions this year. He also asked organisers to obtain permission before displaying banners and to restrict them to designated locations. Health-related activities were encouraged, along with separate bins for wet and dry waste at mandaps.
The commissioner further urged mandals to install idols made from Shadu clay. Idols up to six feet in height are to be immersed in artificial immersion ponds provided by the NMMC in accordance with court directions. City Engineer Shirish Ardawad said more than 150 artificial immersion ponds were being created at immersion locations and that road improvement works were being expedited for completion before the festival.
Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Shinde outlined the civic services and online permission system, while Assistant Commissioner of Police Sandesh Naik briefed participants on police arrangements for maintaining law and order. Representatives of Punaravartan also encouraged residents to use Shadu clay idols and undertake home immersion so that the clay could be recovered for reuse. Officials were directed to address suggestions raised by the participating mandals as preparations continue.
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