Mumbai: ‘Remove 45 billboards from CR, WR premises’

BMC workers dismantle an illegal hoarding opposite Malad railway station on Tuesday

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notice to railway authorities, requesting that a structural audit of all 205 hoardings on land belonging to the Central and Western Railway be conducted. The notice also seeks the removal of 45 billboards on railway premises that exceed the approved size. Meanwhile, the civic body has started acting against illegal billboards across the city.

"We have issued a notice to the railway authorities to conduct a billboard audit. We have also asked the authorities to remove 45 billboards which are larger than the approved size," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Joshi.

The BMC's licensing department had identified 250 billboards on railway property. Of these, 45 flout the size regulation. It has now sought a structural audit for billboards that are facing municipal property and roads.

Gigantic billboards being taken down in Ghatkopar

An official said, "Civic chief Bhushan Gagrani ordered ward offices to start auditing all billboards in the city. The survey will be completed soon. After that, immediate action will be taken." Meanwhile, the civic body has started removing illegal billboards at Malad West.

"There was an illegal hoarding over a sweet shop opposite Malad railway station. We have gotten rid of it," said the official. The BMC has also started removing billboards located at the Ghatkopar railway police quarters opposite the petrol pump where Monday's accident happened. "These hoardings are huge. It will take more days to remove them," the official added.