Drones, face-detection cameras, iron sheets to protect Ganeshotsav

As Mumbaikars celebrate the first day of Ganeshotsav today, Mumbai police have laid out elaborate traffic management and security plans for the city. As many as 53 stretches of road will be closed to vehicular traffic from noon to 6 am for the four days of immersion, and 54 roads will become one-ways. In a first for the city, as an anti-terror measure, police will use high-tech face-detection and identification cameras during all 12 days.

The high-tech cameras will alert the police to the presence of any known suspects listed in their database at immersion points such as Girgaum Chowpatty. Anti-ramming barricades will be set up at immersion points to prevent a Barcelona- type terror attack.

Besides road closures at important stretches, 99 spots have been prohibited for parking on immersion days. Traffic restrictions will be imposed on August 26, 29, 31 and September 5, from 12 noon to 6 am the next day.

On Wednesday, Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar visited Girgaum Chowpatty to review security measures in the area, which sees over 1000 idol immersions. Over 50 CCTV cameras and eight watch towers have been set up to monitor the movement of people, and an Emergency Response and Mobile Surveillance Control …read more