BMC Launches Online Portal for Ganeshotsav Permissions

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) launched its online single-window system on Friday, August 14, 2026, to simplify permissions for Ganeshotsav mandals. This digitized process facilitates obtaining no-objection certificates from local and traffic police.

Ganeshotsav celebrations are scheduled for September 14, 2026. The online application system will be active from August 14 until September 13, 2026. Pandal permissions will remain valid until September 26, 2026.

Mandals can submit applications via the BMC website under the 'Pandal' facility. Initial scrutiny by ward offices will precede online NOC acquisition. For first-time applicants, approval from the zonal deputy commissioner is necessary before a Rs 100 fee and subsequent permission issuance.

Existing mandals with five-year permissions can use the online renewal facility. Their sites will undergo physical verification to ensure consistency with approved plans before NOCs are secured. Mandals with one-year permissions in 2025 can opt for one-year (2026) or five-year (2026-2030) renewals.

Participation in a one-day training program is now mandatory for two volunteers per mandal, focusing on crowd management, fire safety, and first aid. The BMC also reiterated directives against digging roads or footpaths for pandal erection, urging alternative construction methods.

Compliance with fire-safety regulations, licensing, advertising rules, and health guidelines to prevent communicable disease spread is required. For Navratri celebrations, applications will be accepted from September 10 to October 10, 2026, with permissions valid until October 21, 2026.