Lower Parel: BMC Demands Removal of Hazardous Ad Hoarding

There is an advertisement hoarding erected on railway premises in Lower Parel. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as the hoardings could topple onto the roads and pathways, they endanger both pedestrians and vehicle traffic. Hence, BMC has issued notice twice to Western Railway (WR) demanding the removal of the hoarding for safety purposes.

Senior Inspector license of G South Ward issued the notice. For the sake of public safety, the inspector had previously ordered the hoarding organisation to remove hoardings, but the firm did not respond.

On inspection rounds, BMC Staff learnt that the hoardings erected in railway premises project onto the municipal footpath by five to six feet at the Senapati Bapat Marg up till Rakhangi Chowk junction, opposite Phoenix mill. This is also posing as a risk to pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

They claimed that the large hoardings were erected unlawfully and draw the attention of individuals passing through the BMC's jurisdiction, which results in a loss of revenue. A BMC officer stated, "Those hoardings there should be for railway commuters, not for citizens walking on the pavements and traveling from the roads."

In the first week of June, the licensing department of BMC conducted a special drive to remove 1,931 illegal hoardings, banners, posters, and flags from main and interior roads in priority areas. This action was taken under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal. Last year a total of 16,360 illegal banners were taken down across Mumbai by the civic body.

Out of all the banners that were taken down, 688 were religious, 283 were political, and 253 were commercial, according to statistics provided by the BMC. The most severely impacted areas were prominent ones like Colaba, Ghatkopar, Dadar, Bandra, and Mulund. About 416 flags were also taken down during the campaign in addition to the 196 posters.

Ongoing Surveillance

BMC had decided to take regular action against unauthorized posters and banners. The ward-level team will keep an eye on their respective areas, removing any illegal banners and posters they come across.

The civic body removes the banners, snaps photos, and files Defacement Act complaints against the people whose names are on them. Cases against illegal commercial hoardings are lodged in the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, which has the power to impose a fine of INR 5,000.

Under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, police complaints against lawbreakers are filed. As per this act, the wrongdoer will have to pay INR 2000 fine, or serve imprisonment for 3 months, or both. Additionally, he can be penalised under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and will have to pay a fine ranging from INR 1000 to 5000 for placing a hoarding or poster.

The civic council frequently pulls down between 15,000 and 20,000 such hoardings and banners every year. Of these, 45% have to do with celebrations or wishing political figures happy birthday. During the holiday season, there are often more unlawful hoardings.