Greater Chennai Corporation removes 460 unauthorised hoardings

So far, 460 unauthorised hoardings have been removed. Out of this, 250 have been removed along with their structures as their height crossed the 30 feet limit.

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  • Storyboard18,
 | May 17, 2024 , 2:22 pm
PCMC has called for rules and regulations in place by stating that the advertisers and landowners should check whether permissions, especially from sky signs and licenses department were obtained.
PCMC has called for rules and regulations in place by stating that the advertisers and landowners should check whether permissions, especially from sky signs and licenses department were obtained.

The illegal hoarding collapse on a petrol pump in Ghatkopar, Mumbai on May 13 triggered a Tak-down of illegal hoardings across the country. After Pune, the recent move has been been made by the Greater Chennai Corporation where they have initiated the process of removing unauthorised hoardings across the city.

So far, 460 unauthorised hoardings have been removed. Out of this, 250 have been removed along with their structures as their height crossed the 30 feet limit.

Read More: Author Amitav Ghosh’s forewarning about Mumbai billboards comes to light post recent billboard tragedy

The body received 1,100 applications for hoardings, out of which, 40 have been rejected.

Zonal officials, as stated in a media report, have been asked to do away with approved illegal hoardings, the civic body is yet to issue licence to the rest. 

Read More: Mumbai hoarding collapse: BMC issues notice to railway authorities; Hoardings above 40×40 size to be removed

In the city of Pune, over a thousand illegal hoardings are awaiting action, under the jurisdiction of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).

Since the administration has no knowledge on their structural stability, they pose a risk on the lives of the citizens. Most of the hoardings are located along major national highways including Pune-Mumbai, Pune-Nashik, Pune-Satara and Pune-Solapur.

The Mumbai billboard collapse has also led the BMC to issue notices to the Central Railways and the Western Railways administrations to take down oversized hoardings present on their lands.

The BMC said in a release issued on May 15, that the notices have been sent to the authorities for the removal of hoardings above 40 x 40 feet size, under Section 30 (2) (V) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Read More: Advertisers alarmed by Mumbai hoarding collapse; ad agencies, brands call for audits and action

On May 16, in connection with the Mumbai billboard collapse, owner of Ego Media, Bhavesh Bhinde was taken into police custody. Bhinde, who was able to secure contracts from the Indian Railways and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in early 2024, had a short unsuccessful political journey in 2009, when an affidavit revealed 23 criminal cases against him.

#FreeOurSkylines – Fight against illegal ad hoardings: A terrible tragedy struck on May 13 after a 100-foot-tall illegal billboard fell at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar during dust storms and unseasonal rains in Mumbai. The killer hoarding caused the deaths of over a dozen people and injured many others. The catastrophic incident outraged citizens who have been dealing with the menace of illegal ad hoardings. The people don’t want just answers but solutions, as they turn to civic authorities, advertising agencies, industry bodies, brand marketers, and media owners, to take responsibility and fight against the menace of illegal advertising hoardings. So speak up and join the #FreeOurSkylines movement. Write to us at Storyboard18@nw18.com with your concerns and views, and let’s make our cities safer together.

Catch all our special coverage here: #FreeOurSkylines – Fight against illegal ad hoardings

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