Mumbai: Less than 15 per cent shops in city inspected for Marathi signboards

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The BMC has inspected less than 15 per cent of the total number of shops in Mumbai even though it initiated action against establishments for flouting signboard rules over the last month and a half. During the drive, it was found that two to three per cent of shops inspected did not display signboards in Marathi, in violation of Maharashtra-wide rules.

The action against errant shops was stopped in November 2022 after an SC order put a stay on it. In a fresh order on September 25, 2023, the SC gave establishments two months to comply with the Marathi signboard norm. Subsequently, on November 28, the BMC resumed action and until January 10, 2024, it inspected 72,794 shops. This is a mere 15 per cent of the total shops in the city, which is home to over five lakh establishments.

The corporation found that 70,075 shops have installed Marathi boards, while 2,719 shops were in violation of norms. "We formed teams at the ward level, and the inspection work is carried out on a regular basis. The ratio of shops not displaying boards has reduced from five per cent to two per cent now," a BMC official said. On January 10, of the 1,940 shops inspected, 1,890 shops had Marathi boards.

"Over 80 per cent of shops had already changed their boards before the BMC initiated action in late November," said a member of the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA).