High-tech vigil for Ganesh immersion in Mumbai, GPS to be used

The Ganesh immersion went high-tech In Mumbai on Sunday with the police using Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and video surveillence to guard against mischief as thousands of idols started inching towards the sea for their final journey.

“Lorries of important Ganesh mandals will be fitted with video cameras and GPS,” a senior traffic police official said. "As the vehicle moves, its location will be flashed  with timings. It will be continuous monitoring, live footage of which will be available at the traffic control room,"

According to Mumbai Mayor Shraddha Jadhav, 4,158 sarvajanik (public) Ganesh idols and 27,530 household idols will be immersed at 88 immersion points on various beaches of Mumbai.

Roads designated immersion routes will be closed to general traffic. Route instructions have been given to each mandal, according to the police. There will be a special lookout for unattended bags or unidentifiable objects.

After Wednesday's blast at the Delhi High Court and in view of Mumbai becoming a renewed target of terror this year, security has been tightened not only in the metropolis but all over the state, where the festival is celebrated on a massive scale.

“We have tightened security at all important locations, put up road blocks, organised random check of vehicles and taken other measures,” Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik told reporters.