The police beefed up security at all important civil and military installations in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and other towns and rounded up about 300 anti-social elements.
The police also advised the organizers of the festival in Mumbai and other important cities to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) to monitor movement of people and anti-social elements.
In Mumbai the police have deployed nearly 15,000 policemen to ensure that the festival is not disrupted.
In Pune, the police have made elaborate security arrangements for the festive season.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar said, "After getting intel, the police held a special meeting with Dagdusheth Ganapati Halwai Trust, which installs the biggest idol of Ganesh, on security measures.”
Seeking cooperation from citizens, she said, "People are being advised through posters, bulk SMSes and pamphlets not to touch any suspicious object."
In another development, social activist and anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare returned to his village, Ralegaon Siddhi, from Delhi on Thursday morning. He was received at the Lohegaon airport in Pune by a large number of people.
The villagers in Ralegaon Siddhi too welcomed him with fanfare. Hazare was to have addressed a meeting of the Ralegaon Siddhi village council Thursday evening, but it was canceled as Hazare informed the village council head that he was still unwell.