Lalbaugcha Raja’s Free Meal Plan Hits Roadblock; BMC Issues Notice Over Unauthorized Food Camps

Mumbai, 28th August 2025: For lakhs of devotees, visiting Lalbaugcha Raja during Ganeshotsav is not just about seeking blessings, but also about experiencing the spirit of service and community. This year, the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal had planned something extra special, a massive free prasad meal facility capable of serving more than 500 devotees at once at the Peru Compound in Lalbaug.

However, what began as a noble initiative has now run into a storm of regulatory hurdles. The Mumbai Police and Fire Brigade both refused permission, citing safety and crowd management concerns. Despite this, the mandal went ahead and erected three large food camps, drawing the attention of civic authorities.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) F-South Ward has now stepped in, serving a strict notice to the private landowner of the Peru Compound. The notice directs the immediate dismantling of sheds and structures within 24 hours, failing which the civic body has warned it will carry out removal on its own.

According to officials, the main worry is that sudden surges of crowds rushing for food could lead to stampedes or law-and-order issues in an already congested festival zone. The Fire Brigade has also made it clear that it cannot give its clearance unless both the police and BMC approvals are in place.

As of now, the fate of the free food facility remains uncertain. Devotees, who welcomed the idea of a large-scale prasad seva, will have to wait and watch how the tug-of-war between the mandal and authorities unfolds.

For now, amidst the glittering pandals and devotional fervor of Ganeshotsav, one of Mumbai’s most celebrated mandals finds itself at the center of a clash between faith, service, and safety regulations.