Hyderabad Prepares for Grand Ganesh Shobha Yatra and Idol Immersion
Hyderabad is all set for the grand Ganesh Shobha Yatra on Tuesday, as organizers prepare for the farewell of Ganpati idols. The 70-feet tall Khairtabad Maha Ganesh will be the first to be immersed, followed by the famous Balapur Ganesh and other idols from across the city. Authorities have made special security arrangements in sensitive areas, especially as Ganesh festivities overlap with Milad-un-Nabi for the second year in a row.
The city is decorated and prepared for the Ganesh idol immersion with heightened security and traffic restrictions along the procession routes. The administration has taken steps to ensure the smooth immersion of idols in Hussain Sagar and other lakes.
The Shobha Yatra for Khairtabad’s massive Ganesh idol will begin at 9 am and is expected to reach NTR Marg by 1 pm, with the immersion process to be completed by 2 pm. Various departments, including GHMC, HMWS&SB, HMDA, and the Fire Department, have deployed personnel and equipment to avoid any delays in the procession.
The Balapur Ganesh pandal is one of the oldest in Hyderabad, leading the Vinayaka procession in the Old City, covering a 19 km route from Balapur to Hussain Sagar. Several other processions from nearby areas will merge with the main Balapur Ganesh procession. According to the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi, over 1.4 lakh Ganesh idols have been installed across the city this year.
Arrangements by GHMC
Authorities have set up immersion platforms at NTR Marg, People’s Plaza, and Buddha Bhavan for the immersion of Ganesh idols. On Monday, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali Kata inspected the arrangements at Necklace Road, confirming that all preparations were in place for Tuesday’s event.
As many as 15,000 staff members from various departments, including sanitation and engineering, will be working in shifts around the clock to ensure a smooth immersion process. Additionally, 500 more staff will be deployed for the day after the immersion.
To monitor the event, 10 control rooms have been set up across the city, apart from a main command center. Seventy-three artificial ponds, including 27 baby ponds and 24 portable ponds, have been created across Greater Hyderabad. Meanwhile, 100 divers and expert swimmers have been stationed near the ponds. A total of 468 cranes, 309 mobile toilets, and over 52,000 temporary lights have also been arranged.
Security Measures in Sensitive Areas
The Hyderabad city police have made special security arrangements, particularly in sensitive areas, as both Ganesh immersion and Milad-un-Nabi will take place. Blue Colts and patrol teams have increased their presence in various neighborhoods to maintain peace and ensure the festivals proceed smoothly.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand emphasized the importance of security, intelligence gathering, and traffic management at key intersections like Basheerbagh and MJ Market, especially given the challenges faced during last year’s events.
Anti-sabotage inspections are underway, and the police are also monitoring social media. Drones, SHE Teams, and camera-equipped vehicles have been deployed to maintain order. Discussions are also ongoing about the arrangements for the Milad-un-Nabi procession, scheduled for the 19th of this month.
Chief Minister Reviews Arrangements
On Monday, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reviewed the Ganesh immersion preparations at the Command Control Centre in Banjara Hills. He directed that alerts should be sent to field personnel every hour to ensure the smooth conduct of the immersion.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand informed the Chief Minister that 733 CCTV cameras were being used to monitor the immersion process across the city. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of paying extra attention to problematic areas, ensuring that records are kept for blind spots and hotspots.
Revanth Reddy instructed that special measures be taken at main immersion sites like Tank Bund and other key ponds. He urged officials to ensure that the immersion process proceeds without any issues and that all necessary precautions are taken.
