Lalbaugcha Raja has taken out a Rs 51-crore insurance to protect all his devotees this year. Anyone who visits Lalbaugcha Raja and happens to eat at any of the food stalls in a 5-km radius will now be insured for tummy upsets.
Mumbai’s most famous Ganpati mandal is playing big brother to other mandals by taking a second insurance to cover festivities across the city. The first insurance is the larger one, worth Rs 51 crore, and covers any possible eventuality in a 5-km radius, from terror attacks to fires. It also insures Bappa’s ornaments – around 4 to 5 kg of gold, as well as food served by vendors near Lalbaugcha Raja. The second insurance, worth Rs 5 crore, covers other mandals and lakhs of devotees who are part of the immersion processions. Balasaheb Kamble, president of Lalbaugcha Raja confirmed that both insurance plans have been finalized with New India Assurance and the premiums have been paid as well.
In 2015, the mandal had taken out an insurance of Rs 51 crore. It covered the pandal, electrical, accident insurance for officials, volunteers and residents and also protected the idol and its ornaments. This year, the food poisoning provision is a new addition, as is the separate Rs 5-crore insurance for other Mandals.
