In a city that never sleeps, with a population of over 20 million, the Mumbai police face a Sisyphean task. Yet, during the recent Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, they once again demonstrated their remarkable ability to balance order with tradition, ensuring a peaceful end to one of the country’s most widely celebrated festivals.
Ganesh Chaturthi is not merely a religious festival but also a logistical nightmare. Millions of devotees flood the streets, throwing traffic off-kilter as massive idols are paraded through the city to the Arabian Sea. The city’s overstretched and underpaid police force must ensure public safety, regulate traffic and monitor the ever-present threat of terrorist activity in a metropolis that has seen its fair share of attacks. Yet, year after year, the festival concludes with minimal incident. This year was no different, with 24,000 thousand personnel deployed to oversee the Visarjan.
What makes the police’s performance even more impressive is the scale of their operation despite being hamstrung by a woefully inadequate force of barely 50,000 police officers. Not just festivals, but Mumbai’s police have to cope with increasing crime and social unrest. In comparison, New York City, with a population of around 8 million, has over 36,000 officers. The ratio of police to citizens in Mumbai is a stark reminder of how little the force has to work with.
Despite this, the Mumbai police regularly pull off large-scale operations. The coordination required is staggering. But while they toil behind the scenes, they are often lambasted in public discourse as corrupt and incompetent.
The vast majority of officers work tirelessly in harsh conditions often without proper breaks, working in congested areas where pollution and stress are constant companions. In 2022, the Maharashtra government recorded over 1,000 cases of illness and mental health problems among police officers, a reflection of the strain under which they operate.
Moreover, the public’s lack of faith in the police is partly fuelled by media portrayals. Bollywood films routinely depict police officers as either incompetent or corrupt, reinforcing negative stereotypes. In reality, many Mumbai police officers exhibit remarkable professionalism, particularly in high-pressure situations. The handling of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks showcased the bravery of the police force in responding to an unprecedented crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mumbai’s police were lauded for their efforts in enforcing lockdowns and distributing food. The challenges faced by the Mumbai police are manifold. They contend with a demoralising lack of resources — lack of patrol cars, decrepit station infrastructure and outdated crime-fighting technology. But despite this, the police have shown incredible adaptability.
It is time to recognise that for every negative headline, there are untold stories of dedication and quiet professionalism. Rather than vilify them, we must understand the conditions they work under and the enormity of their task. If Mumbai is to continue as India’s financial capital and cultural heart, its police force will need more than just our thanks — they will need the resources, reform, and respect they so rightly deserve.
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