Ganpati pandals in Mumbai on the decline this year. Here's why...

Representational pictureThe BMC has received only 1,860 requests from Ganpati mandals to erect pandals this year compared to 2,538 last year. This drop could be attributed to a depressed real estate market and stringent procedures implemented by the BMC in the permission process.Only 553 application out of the 1,860 submitted have been accepted by the BMC. This amounts to just 30 per cent of mandals that have permission as Ganesh Chaturthi approaches in 2 days.Also read: Mumbai's richest Ganpat