Public safety has been elevated to the top of the agenda by Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Thane District Guardian Minister, Eknath Shinde, who has directed all concerned agencies to complete monsoon-readiness tasks before the first showers arrive. Drainage systems were instructed to be cleared of debris, dangerous hoardings were ordered to be removed, and structural audits were mandated to be carried out on bridges, culverts, and public buildings. Potholes were commanded to be patched up promptly, and exposed manholes were required to be made safe.
Full coordination was called for between the Railways and municipal corporations in order to ensure that rainfall would be effectively channeled away from vulnerable areas. Comprehensive tree pruning was also demanded to prevent fallen branches from obstructing roads and drains. Dilapidated school buildings were identified for immediate inspection and necessary reinforcement. Meanwhile, the establishment of temporary shelters and the arrangement of alternate access routes for villages that are prone to seasonal flooding were ordered. Volunteer rescue squads with trained swimmers were to be kept on standby, and National Disaster Response Force units from both Thane and Kalyan were assigned to remain stationed in the district until September.
In parallel, it has been noted that one year has passed since the tragic hoarding collapse at Ghatkopar, which resulted in 17 fatalities. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was criticized for allowing a critical outdoor advertising policy to languish. A draft regulation was presented in August 2024 and subjected to public hearings, yet no definitive action has been taken. Illegal billboards continue to be found across rooftops, terraces, traffic islands, and bridge flyovers despite repeated assurances that they would be cleared.
Following the collapse, a special committee was convened by the BMC, bringing together experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, environmental consultants, senior police officers, and civic engineers. By October 2024, a set of comprehensive guidelines was drafted. These rules prohibited the erection of new hoardings on rooftops, terraces, traffic islands, and bridge gantries, and they set forth stringent safety standards for all existing displays. However, publication and enforcement of the policy have been delayed, leaving the cityscape still cluttered with unauthorized advertising structures.
Strong public criticism has been voiced by residents and activists alike as illegal hoardings continue to pose a safety hazard. Citizens expressed frustration that, despite the lessons of the Ghatkopar tragedy, little concrete progress has been made. Until the disputed policy is finalized and implemented, the risk to pedestrians and motorists will remain elevated whenever monsoon-softened structures are left unchecked.
As the monsoon season approaches, the measures ordered by Deputy Chief Minister Shinde are being closely monitored. It is expected that, once fully enacted, these directives will help to shield the public from both flood-related dangers and the collapse of unstable hoardings. In the meantime, the delay in advertising policy implementation continues to draw sharp rebuke, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action to protect Mumbai’s citizens.