The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a one-month deadline for shops, hotels, commercial establishments and offices across mumbai to install Marathi signboards prominently outside their premises.
Mumbai Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi has asked shops and other establishments, including five-star hotels and celebrity-owned outlets, to prominently display signboards in Marathi within a month and warned of a “Shiv Sena-style” response if the directive was not followed.
He warned that officials ignoring enforcement action would also face action.
According to civic officials, establishments that fail to comply within the deadline could face penalties and further action under existing regulations.
It is pertinent to note that the directive follows repeated instructions from the Maharashtra government and renewed focus on ensuring Marathi is visibly represented in public and commercial spaces across the state.
Authorities said the measure is aimed at promoting Marathi language identity and ensuring compliance with long-standing state regulations regarding local language signage.
Mumbai has around nine lakh shops and establishments. BMC officials have already inspected nearly 1.58 million establishments across Mumbai as part of the drive.
Of which 5,020 have still not complied with the rule mandating display of Marathi signboards, the deputy mayor maintained.
The civic body has so far issued notices to 3,774 establishments directing them to install Marathi signboards, while 3,114 establishments have been prosecuted for non-compliance.
Of which, the BMC has so far taken penal action against 3,114 establishments and recovered fines amounting to INR 1.91 crore, he said.
The rule applies to:
The BMC said inspections and enforcement drives will begin after the deadline expires.
BMC law committee chairperson Diksha Karkar, who was also present on the occasion, said instructions had been issued to the administration to serve notices to establishments that had not yet received them and seek compliance within a month.
Karkar said that she has directed officials to compile names of non-compliant establishments, submit a report within 15 days on the action taken, and initiate further action after the one-month deadline.
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