Mumbai, Sep 5 (IANS) A controversy has erupted in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar West over the construction of a Dahi Handi stage in the middle of a road, with the Ghatkopar Police urging the Municipal Corporation to take immediate action against the structure.
The Senior Police Inspector of Ghatkopar Police Station has written to the Assistant Commissioner of N-Ward, raising objections to the stage being constructed for a Dahi Handi festival organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
According to the letter dated September 3, MNS leader Ganesh Chukkal is scheduled to organise the Dahi Handi festival on Saturday at Amrit Nagar Circle in Ghatkopar West. The Municipal Corporation had reportedly been informed about the police’s no-objection to the programme on the condition that pedestrian and vehicular movement would not be obstructed.
However, during an inspection on September 3 at around 7 p.m., police officials observed that a stage was being constructed in the middle of the road in front of the Sagar Park building.
The police have raised concerns that once completed, the stage could completely block the proposed 90-foot road leading towards the Sagar Park building. According to the letter, such an obstruction could prevent emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire engines, from reaching the area in case of an emergency.
The police further pointed out that necessary permissions had allegedly not been obtained from the ward officer and the fire department in Vikhroli before the construction of the stage. They also stated that it appeared that no site inspection had been conducted before the structure was erected.
The police cited a previous incident to underline the seriousness of the issue. On September 2, 2025, a fire broke out at a shop in Indira Nagar. At the time, emergency vehicles reportedly faced difficulties in reaching the location due to hawkers and unauthorised parking on the road in front of the Sagar Park building.
The issue of hawkers and unauthorised parking in the area was also raised during the hearing of PIL No. 324/2025 before the Bombay High Court on September 3, 2025.
The Ghatkopar Police have, therefore, sought appropriate action from the Municipal Corporation to ensure that the proposed festival arrangements do not obstruct traffic or compromise emergency access.
