Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: BMC action against firm that put up hoarding which fell

The hoarding that fell was 120x120 sq ft, much bigger than the 40x40 sq ft limit imposed by the BMC. Pic/Sameer Markande

The BMC has issued a notice to the owner of the hoarding that collapsed on a fell onto a BPCL petrol pump in Ghatkopar to remove all eight illegal hoardings in the area and pay a fine of Rs 6.13 crore. In April, an FIR was also registered after it was found that at least 41 trees had either been axed or poisoned near these hoardings. According to the BMC, the hoardings were on the land since April 2022.

The BMC said the agency responsible for the hoarding at Ghatkopar is M/S Ego Media, which has its office in Mulund West. The ownership of the land is with the Collector and the land is in possession of the Police Housing Welfare Corporation of the Government of Maharashtra.

There are four hoardings at the site, including the collapsed one and the permission issued to all these had been given by the assistant commissioner of police (admin, Mumbai railways). However, no permission/NOC was obtained from the BMC by the agency/railways before erection of the hoardings, the BMC said in its statement. BMC allows a maximum hoarding size of 40x40 square feet. The illegal hoarding that collapsed was 120 x120 square feet.

As per BMC's notice, all eight hoardings erected at nearby spots are illegal without any permission sanctioned by the civic body. The notice sent by the assistant commissioner of N ward states that the company is bound to pay the license fee and fine of Rs 6,13,84,464 and remove all eight hoardings within 10 days.

The BMC also plans to register an FIR against the company and the GRP, which issued permission for the hoardings. "As per sections of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, we will also register an FIR against the GRP as they own the land and have given the permission to raise the hoardings," said a BMC official.

FIR for killing trees

On receipt of a complaint, the BMC registered an FIR with the Pant Nagar police in April against the company for poisoning the trees that were obstructing the view of the hoardings. The civic body also issued a notice to ACP (admin) railway police on May 2 to cancel all permissions and remove the hoardings. The complaint was filed by Krishna Lambe, who works with the garden department of the BMC.

Officials from the garden department noticed that several trees on the divider from the junction of the Andheri-Jogeshwari Link Road and the Eastern Express Highway to Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar East were chopped or poisoned. The complaint mentions that at least 41 trees were killed.

With inputs from Apoorva Agashe