Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, July 14, directed the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to immediately remove all illegal hoardings across the city following a hoarding-related accident.
Taking swift cognisance of the incident, Shinde spoke with the Thane Municipal Commissioner and instructed civic officials to launch a city-wide crackdown on unauthorised advertising structures. He also ordered a comprehensive structural audit of all large hoardings to ensure they are safe, especially during the ongoing monsoon season when strong winds and heavy rainfall increase the risk of accidents.
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised that the structural audit should be completed without delay to identify vulnerable hoardings before they become a threat to public safety. He further directed authorities to take strict legal action against those responsible for installing illegal hoardings, as well as against any structures found to be unsafe.
Following the government's directives, the Thane Municipal Corporation began a large-scale operation to remove unauthorised hoardings across the city. According to civic officials, the enforcement drive started on Tuesday night and is continuing in multiple areas to eliminate illegal advertising structures.
The latest action comes in the wake of a hoarding collapse on July 6, when strong winds caused a massive billboard to fall on a busy road in Thane. The incident disrupted traffic and created safety concerns for commuters.
Traffic police quickly reached the spot to regulate vehicle movement while civic teams cleared the fallen hoarding and restored normal traffic flow. Fortunately, prompt action helped minimise further disruption.
With heavy rainfall and gusty winds affecting several parts of Maharashtra, civic authorities have stepped up inspections of public infrastructure that could pose safety risks during the monsoon.
The ongoing removal of illegal hoardings and the structural assessment of large billboards are part of Thane Municipal Corporation's broader monsoon preparedness plan. Officials will continue inspecting advertising structures across the city and take action against those that violate safety norms to reduce the risk of weather-related accidents and ensure public safety.
Share
Tweet
