Hyderabad: Nationwide Ganesh Visarjan celebrations on Anant Chaturdashi highlighted how Indian cities are combining tradition with technology to manage massive gatherings.
In Mumbai, authorities planned the immersion of more than 1.80 lakh idols. To manage the process, they introduced artificial intelligence for traffic and crowd control. At Girgaon Chowpatty, an AI-based control room tracked processions in real time through QR codes and vehicle stickers. This system streamlined traffic diversion and made management smoother.
Police strengthened arrangements further. They installed 1,175 steel plates on beaches, deployed 42 cranes, and arranged 50 German rafts for large idols. With 21,000 police personnel, 2,178 lifeguards, and 56 motorboats on duty, safety remained the top priority.
Ganesh Visarjan highlights evolving festival governance in big cities
In Hyderabad, preparations focused on the immersion of two lakh idols. Police Commissioner C.V. Anand announced a 50,000-strong deployment. The process, expected to last nearly 40 hours, involved multiple routes and checkpoints to keep processions safe and traffic controlled.
The use of AI and large-scale coordination showed how festivals like Ganesh Visarjan have become complex urban operations. Experts noted that while devotion remains central, management now reflects challenges of crowd safety, traffic flow, and disaster readiness.
