Mumbai: The country will observe the Mahaparivan Diwas on Friday, December 6- the 68th death anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar. As per tradition, lakhs of Ambedkar devotees across the country will visit Chaityabhoomi in Dadar to offer their prayers to Babasaheb and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is all set with basic amenities like food, water, sanitation and health services to the visitors along with security measures at the Shivaji Park ground.
This year, the BMC has deployed manpower of over 8,000 to provide facilities to Ambedkar devotees visiting Shivaji Park. The civic body has erected a temporary shelter in a pavilion of 1 lakh square feet area.
Last year, around 5 lakh people visited Shivaji Park from December 1 to 7. However, over the years the trend is changing and the floating population is rising. Earlier, devotees used to arrive from December 4 to December 6 at Shivaji Park. Now people prefer to visit Chaityabhoomi and offer their prayers anytime in the week. Devotees have started arriving in the city in the last couple of days, a senior BMC officer said.
The BMC, however, has stepped in the amenities provided at Shivaji Park for the devotees. Facilities like the installation of RO water filters, and dedicated women’s bus toilets are introduced, while to address the local issue of dust pollution, the civic body has increased the number of ‘Dust Resistance Vehicles’ this year.
The vehicles will spray water on the pathways covering an area of 18,500 sq mt. BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has directed civic staff to emphasize on matters related to cleanliness, health and safety while providing civic facilities to the devotees.
Some of the other preparations and facilities the BMC will provide at Shivaji Park and Chaityabhoomi on December 6 include: Additional toilets on the main road in the Indu Mill area for followers standing in the queues, four pink toilets for women, over 225 workers in each session for cleaning the areas, six RO plants for drinking water, 530 drinking water taps, 70 water tankers, four ‘Hirkani’ rooms for mothers and children, mobile charging points among others.
In terms of security measures, rotating security cameras, metal detectors and bag scanners have been installed. There will also be a VIP Control room at Chaityabhoomi along with health services and 11 ambulances at different locations, two fire engines and four boats in case of emergency.
