Mumbai Police flags MNS Dahi Handi stage blocking Ghatkopar road
Synopsis
Ghatkopar Police have flagged a Dahi Handi stage built in the middle of a road by an MNS leader as a direct threat to emergency access — citing a real fire from just days earlier where ambulances were already blocked on the same stretch. With a Bombay High Court PIL running in parallel on the same road, this is a civic governance failure playing out in real time.
Key Takeaways
Ghatkopar Police wrote to the MCGM N-Ward on 3 September 2025 seeking action against a Dahi Handi stage built mid-road in Ghatkopar West .
The stage is linked to a festival organised by MNS leader Ganesh Chukkal at Amrit Nagar Circle , scheduled for Saturday, 6 September 2025 .
Police warned the structure could block a 90-foot road , preventing ambulances and fire engines from accessing the area.
On 2 September 2025 , emergency vehicles reportedly struggled to reach a fire in Indira Nagar on the same road due to hawkers and unauthorised parking.
Required permissions from the ward officer and the Vikhroli fire department were allegedly not obtained before construction began.
The road's hawker and parking problem was also raised in PIL No.
324/2025 before the Bombay High Court on 3 September 2025 .
Ghatkopar Police have written to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) seeking immediate action against a Dahi Handi stage being erected in the middle of a road in Ghatkopar West, raising alarms over blocked emergency access ahead of the festival on Saturday, 6 September 2025. The structure, linked to a programme organised by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Ganesh Chukkal, has drawn sharp objections from local police over safety and compliance failures.
What the Police Found
During an inspection on 3 September 2025 at approximately 7 pm, police officials observed a stage under construction in the middle of the road in front of the Sagar Park building at Amrit Nagar Circle in Ghatkopar West. The Senior Police Inspector of Ghatkopar Police Station subsequently wrote to the Assistant Commissioner of N-Ward, flagging the obstruction.
According to the letter, the Municipal Corporation had earlier been informed that the police had no objection to the festival, but only on the condition that pedestrian and vehicular movement would not be impeded. The stage construction, as observed, appeared to violate that condition.
Emergency Access at Risk
Police warned that the completed stage could entirely block a proposed 90-foot road leading to the Sagar Park building, potentially preventing ambulances and fire engines from reaching the area during an emergency. The concern is not hypothetical: on 2 September 2025, a fire broke out at a shop in Indira Nagar, and emergency vehicles reportedly struggled to access the site due to hawkers and unauthorised parking on the same stretch of road.
Permissions Allegedly Not Obtained
The police letter further noted that the organisers had allegedly not secured the required permissions from the ward officer or the fire department in Vikhroli before beginning construction. Authorities also pointed out that no site inspection appeared to have been conducted prior to the stage being erected — a procedural lapse that compounded the safety concerns.
High Court PIL in the Background
The broader issue of hawkers and unauthorised parking on the road in front of Sagar Park was also raised during the hearing of PIL No. 324/2025 before the Bombay High Court on 3 September 2025. The PIL's existence suggests this is not an isolated complaint but part of a recurring civic governance problem in the area.
What the Police Have Asked For
The Ghatkopar Police have urged the MCGM to take appropriate and immediate action to ensure that festival arrangements do not obstruct traffic or compromise emergency vehicle access. Whether the civic body acts before the Saturday event remains to be seen.
Point of View
And that emergency vehicles were already blocked there during a fire 24 hours earlier, points to a systemic breakdown, not a one-off lapse. The MCGM's response — or lack of it — before Saturday's event will be the real test.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ghatkopar Police object to the MNS Dahi Handi stage?
Ghatkopar Police objected because the stage was being constructed in the middle of a road in Ghatkopar West, which could block a 90-foot road and prevent ambulances and fire engines from reaching the area in an emergency. The police also noted that required permissions from the ward officer and fire department had allegedly not been obtained.
Who is organising the Dahi Handi festival in Ghatkopar?
The festival is being organised by MNS leader Ganesh Chukkal at Amrit Nagar Circle in Ghatkopar West, and is scheduled for Saturday, 6 September 2025.
What previous incident did the police cite to support their concerns?
Police cited a fire that broke out at a shop in Indira Nagar on 2 September 2025, during which emergency vehicles reportedly faced difficulty reaching the site due to hawkers and unauthorised parking on the road in front of the Sagar Park building — the same stretch now partially blocked by the stage.
What is the Bombay High Court PIL related to this issue?
PIL No. 324/2025, being heard before the Bombay High Court, addresses the problem of hawkers and unauthorised parking on the road in front of the Sagar Park building in Ghatkopar West. The issue was raised during a hearing on 3 September 2025, the same day police wrote to the MCGM.
What action have the police requested?
Ghatkopar Police have asked the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to take immediate and appropriate action to ensure that the Dahi Handi festival arrangements do not obstruct traffic or compromise emergency vehicle access in the area.
