BMC enforces stricter Ganeshotsav rules: ₹15,000 fine for potholes, reapplication for Mandals, ₹100 fee restored. Despite court hearing pending, POP idols allowed with artificial lake immersion mandate.
Mumbai | July 23, 2025: As the city gears up for its globally renowned Ganeshotsav celebrations, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a set of strict new regulations, raising concerns among Ganesh Mandals.
This year, digging potholes on roads to set up Ganesh Mandaps will attract a hefty fine of ₹15,000 per pothole, a significant jump from the earlier ₹2,000. The move aims to curb damage to public roads during festival preparations.
Last year, the state government had waived fees for Ganesh Mandals. However, this year, BMC has reinstated a ₹100 mandatory fee, applicable to all 12,000 public Mandals and over 1.5 lakh household Ganeshotsavs in Mumbai.
Despite a previous five-year blanket permission granted to Mandals, BMC’s new circular mandates fresh applications for all organizers this year. This sudden change has sparked discontent among festival committees, many of whom now face delays and uncertainty.
In addition, while the Bombay High Court has permitted the use of Plaster of Paris (POP) idols, BMC has made it compulsory to immerse these idols only in artificial lakes, aligning with eco-friendly directives.
Notably, the High Court will hear a related plea today, July 23, but BMC’s pre-emptive issuance of the circular has raised eyebrows among organizers. Many question the timing and lack of consultation before implementation.
As Ganeshotsav preparations begin in full swing, organizers are now faced with navigating tighter regulations, higher penalties, and procedural hurdles in what is otherwise one of Mumbai’s most cherished cultural festivals.
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