Ganeshotsav wraps up, Pune bids farewell to Bappa amid noise pollution debate

Beyond the familiar sounds, colours and crowds, this year’s Ganeshotsav was dominated by one conversation, or rather debate: noise pollution. Much of that discussion began with Vidyanand Bapat, a Narayan Peth resident whose stand against excessive noise from DJs, loudspeakers and dhol-tashas (percussion instruments) brought the issue into the public spotlight.

Bapat’s stand sparked wider discussion, drawing reactions from Ganesh mandals, citizens, politicians and the police. The 37-year-old was also assaulted while speaking to a television channel on Tilak Road, an incident that sharpened the debate over the right to question established ways of celebrating a festival.

The issue has not remained confined to a public argument. The Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad police have together registered 71 cases for noise-pollution violations during the festival, before the Visarjan day, when the Lord Ganesh idols are immersed in a body of water.

Cops, cameras, and decibel meters

Now, as the city enters the final and most spectacular day of Ganeshotsav, the focus shifts to the enormous task of managing the crowds that will fill central Pune.

About 10,000 police personnel and officers have been deployed for the immersion arrangements, backed by technology including AI-based surveillance and a dedicated war room at Faraskhana police station.

The police will monitor feeds from more than 3,500 cameras, with the war room coordinating with the Integrated Command and Control Centre at Shivajinagar. The Pimpri Chinchwad police have deployed a 4,000-strong police force for Visarjan day.

The Pune police have also deployed 120 teams equipped with decibel meters. The police have also reiterated a ban on high-intensity sound and lighting equipment and held meetings with mandals over the number and duration of dhol-tasha performances during the immersion procession.

The traffic police, meanwhile, have prepared for one of the city’s most demanding days on the roads. The four principal procession routes will progressively close to traffic, with 17 major roads being shut in phases as the procession advances. AI-based traffic tools are also being used to identify congestion-prone locations and help redeploy personnel as per the ground situation.