Mumbai Ganesh Mandals to Pay Reduced ₹2,000 Fee for Road-Digging During Festival

Mumbai’s civic body has rolled back a recent hike in penalties for road-digging by Ganesh mandals, reducing the charge from ₹15,000 to ₹2,000 per pit. The decision brings major relief to mandals preparing for the upcoming Ganeshotsav celebrations.

The earlier increase had been introduced to protect newly concretised roads, with authorities arguing that higher fees would discourage unnecessary excavation. The rule, implemented through the city’s infrastructure department, aimed to preserve the longevity of recent road improvement works.

However, the sudden hike drew sharp criticism from mandal organisers, who said the new fee imposed an undue financial burden. Their concerns were voiced at a public grievance hearing with civic officials.

Following their appeal, the previous penalty of ₹2,000 was reinstated. The decision was confirmed by city officials, who also encouraged mandals to explore innovative and non-invasive techniques for setting up pandals, especially on newly built roads, to minimise potential damage.

A senior state minister expressed support for the rollback, highlighting the cultural significance of Ganeshotsav in Maharashtra and promising that the government would ensure its smooth celebration.

Organisers from the city’s Ganeshotsav coordination committee welcomed the move, stating that the decision would help avoid unnecessary complications and allow mandals to focus on festival preparations.

The ₹2,000 charge had originally been introduced in 2017 as a way to deter road damage and help cover restoration costs. Officials noted that with the city investing heavily in infrastructure, including widespread concretisation projects, safeguarding roads remains a priority.

The rollback strikes a balance between preserving civic infrastructure and respecting long-standing cultural traditions, offering reassurance to thousands of organisers ahead of one of Mumbai’s biggest festivals.