A five-member committee investigating the hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar in May 2024 has termed the incident a result of a criminal conspiracy and a failure of the regulatory system. The committee, headed by former Chief Justice Dilip Bhosale, has recommended filing FIRs against concerned police officials, officers of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the advertisers involved.
The 854-page report, including 34 pages of recommendations, was presented in the state assembly on Tuesday. It outlines several measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The committee, formed in June 2024, included Prof. Deepankar Choudhury, Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Nikhil Gupta, and Chetan Nikam.
The recommendations focus on five key aspects: structural stability, traffic safety, pedestrian safety and convenience, design and environmental factors, and enforcement. According to the report, the incident resulted in 17 deaths and 74 injuries. It indicates collusion between private parties and officials, allowing BMC rules to be bypassed. The committee has recommended criminal cases against those responsible and recovery of costs from them.
It has also called for strict action, including criminal prosecution, heavy penalties, and immediate removal of illegal structures. Additionally, it suggested blacklisting structural engineers who issue false or faulty stability certificates. The report further recommends legal action and penalties against all those involved in erecting illegal hoardings, including beneficiaries featured in such advertisements.
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