BMC Launches Online Single-Window System for Ganeshotsav Pandal Approvals

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday rolled out an online single-window system in Mumbai to facilitate civic and police permissions for Ganeshotsav mandals. The computerised process enables organisers to apply for pandal setups and secure required no-objection certificates (NOCs) from both local and traffic police through a unified digital platform.

The civic facility will remain operational for applicants from August 14 to September 13. With Ganeshotsav scheduled to be celebrated on September 14 this year, the civic administration confirmed that the issued pandal permissions will remain valid until September 26.

Organisers can submit their applications online through the BMC portal under the section titled "For Citizens – Pandal (Public Ganeshotsav/Navratri Festival/Other Festivals)". Once an application is lodged, it will first be reviewed and scrutinised by the concerned local ward office. Following this administrative check, the system will process and obtain the necessary NOCs digitally from the relevant local police station and traffic police authorities.

For new mandals applying for permission for the first time on either public or private land, the procedure involves an additional level of oversight. Their applications will be forwarded to the zonal deputy commissioner for formal approval. After obtaining this clearance, the mandal must pay a fee of Rs 100, following which the respective ward office will formally grant the official permission.

The civic body has also established an online renewal mechanism for mandals that currently hold five-year permissions. For these renewal cases, ward office officials will conduct physical site inspections to verify that the proposed location and dimensions strictly match the previously approved terms. Once site compliance is verified, the required police and traffic NOCs will be processed through the online system.