The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated legal action against 1,423 establishments across Mumbai for failing to display Marathi signboards since November 2023. Civic authorities have also issued notices to 3,774 shops and collected penalties amounting to INR 1.05 crore during the enforcement drive.
Mumbai is home to more than five lakh registered shops and commercial establishments.
The issue came up during a recent civic law committee meeting, where BJP corporator Tejinder Singh Tiwana criticised the BMC’s enforcement strategy. He alleged that the administration was unfairly targeting small traders while avoiding action against influential businesses, including luxury hotels and industrial units.
Responding to the criticism, Deputy Mayor and Shiv Sena corporator Sanjay Ghadi warned that establishments failing to comply within a month would face strict “Shiv Sena-style action.”
To intensify the crackdown, the BMC has deployed 60 inspectors across ward and zonal offices. Each inspector has been assigned the responsibility of checking nearly 50 establishments every day.
According to civic officials, out of the 1,423 establishments booked, 395 have challenged the action in local courts, while 1,014 owners have agreed to follow the rules and install Marathi signboards.
The enforcement process begins with the BMC issuing a notice to non-compliant establishments. If there is no response, authorities impose a fine of INR 2,000 per registered employee and grant seven days to install the required signage. Continued non-compliance can lead to the BMC filing a case in local court and seeking suspension of business operations until the establishment adheres to the regulation.
A senior BMC official said that while some businesses chose to contest the notices legally, the majority eventually complied with the civic body’s directive.