Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed all departments to ensure robust security and proper arrangements ahead of the Mahaparinirvan Diwas 2025 (death anniversary) of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on December 6 at Chaityabhoomi, Mumbai, reported the PTI.
CM Fadnavis chaired a review meeting to assess preparations for the annual event, which attracts lakhs of followers of Dr Ambedkar from across the country.
He stated that the authorities need to coordinate with each other and civic, police, and transport departments must ensure smooth movement and safety for visitors.
“Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar enlightened and awakened society. On this day, all of us should strive to strengthen awareness and propagate his thoughts,” CM Fadnavis said, according to the PTI.
Officials were instructed to ensure proper canopy/pandal arrangements, drinking water, sanitation, traffic management, and adequate signage in the Dadar area, where Chaityabhoomi is located, as per the PTI.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has been asked to deploy additional buses for the convenience of devotees.
Preparations reviewed included security deployment, health services, water supply, food arrangements, waterproof tents, CCTV surveillance, and traffic control. The CM also unveiled a poster and released an information booklet prepared for the occasion.
CM Fadnavis further mentioned that suggestions regarding the proposed Dr Ambedkar statue at the Indu Mill site will be examined by a coordination committee.
Meanwhile, Mumbai is preparing for a massive influx of visitors on December 6 to pay homage at Chaityabhumi in Dadar on the occasion of Mahaparinirvana Diwas.
Anticipating heavy commuter movement across the city between December 5 and 6, the Mumbai Police Commissioner last week issued special crowd-control and safety directives. While issuing the directives, Mumbai Police highlighted some key restrictions and diversions.
All entry points to the Central Bridge and Platform No. 12 will remain closed for commuters entering from city limits. The access road to Platform No. 13 (East) will also be shut. Also, the bridge will remain accessible only for passengers coming from suburban or mail trains to exit east–west or shift between platforms.
The skywalk will remain open for regular commuters entering the station from city limits to access the platforms. However, the passengers arriving by suburban/mail trains at Dadar will also be allowed to exit the station via the skywalk.
The bridge will remain open for commuters coming from east–west access roads. However, passengers arriving at Dadar by local trains will not be allowed to exit the station via the Mahanagara Palika bridge. Moreover, the additional northern pedestrian bridges between the Central and Western lines will remain open only for platform transfers, with passengers being diverted toward the skywalk where required. At Dadar (West), only Gates 1, 6, and 7 near the skywalk will remain open, while the blind-access bridge at Platform 1 will remain closed.
(with PTI inputs)
