Hyderabad: As the city gears up for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, Hyderabad Police have initiated comprehensive preparations to ensure a smooth, safe, and orderly celebration. Senior police officials, including Commissioner of Police C.V. Anand, IPS, have held high-level meetings and issued detailed guidelines to organizers and law enforcement personnel to manage the festivities effectively.  

With the number of Ganesh idols increasing unpredictably each year, the Hyderabad police are leveraging technology and proactive measures to manage crowds and prevent mishaps during immersions.  

In a recent meeting led by ACP Goshamahal S Sudarshan and Inspector M. Srinivasulu of PS Goshamahal, Ganesh mandap organizers were briefed on crucial safety measures for idol installation and immersion. Organizers have been instructed to ensure the structural stability of stages and mandaps to prevent accidents. Adequate precautions must be taken during idol installation, and the use of flammable materials such as cotton and paper in decorations has been strictly prohibited. 

To enhance security, each mandap must install at least one CCTV camera for continuous surveillance. Authorities have also warned against any form of political speeches, provocative slogans, or forced donations during the celebrations. Additionally, organizers have been directed to avoid encroaching on public roads with pandals to ensure smooth traffic flow and pedestrian movement.

Commissioner's directives for police personnel

In a preparatory video conference on August 12, Commissioner C.V. Anand outlined comprehensive security measures for the festival, emphasizing coordination from the ground level up. “For the past three years, the Milad un Nabi festival has coincided with the Ganesh Navaratri celebrations. Since this year is no exception, the Commissioner also gave detailed instructions on the precautions to be taken to ensure both events proceed smoothly," read a statement released by the Hyderabad Police.

One of the key strategies involves geo-tagging all Ganesh mandaps to monitor their locations and movements during immersion processions. Sector officers have been tasked with collecting complete details of mandaps in their jurisdictions to facilitate real-time tracking. The Commissioner also instructed police stations to hold frequent coordination meetings with organizers to address logistical challenges and provide necessary support.

Hyderabad Police chief C V Anand instructed all Sector Sub Inspectors and Police Station Station House Officers(SHO) to collect complete details of the mandaps in their respective areas. This information will facilitate geo-tagging, which will be useful for managing security arrangements and tracking the movement of idols during the immersion procession.

Further, in an inter-department coordination meeting held on 14 August, C.V. Anand asked mandapam organisers to strictly follow court orders regarding the immersion of idols. He also requested that mandapam organisers provide details about their idols to the concerned police officers. He explained that by providing this information, the police department can make appropriate arrangements, ensure proper security, and maintain surveillance through CCTVs.

He suggested that volunteers with a service mindset should be appointed at the mandapams, working alongside the police to prevent disruption to traffic, devotees, and the general public. He said that since the number of devotees increases for every festival, mandapam organizer should take full responsibility to prevent any incidents. He asked the Ganesh Utsava Samiti to cooperate, as the DJ system can cause health problems for the elderly and children. He also asked the RTC to provide additional drivers and mechanics for the immersion day.