Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: 306 hoardings on rly land unauthorised; 45 of these are oversized

Survey reveals there are 1,225 hoardings in the city, of which every billboard authorised by BMC is legal and everything cleared by GRP is illegal, raising questions

The preliminary investigations by the BMC have revealed that all 306 unauthorised hoardings in the city were permitted by the Railways and the GRP. According to BMC officials, there are 1,225 hoardings in Mumbai. During scrutiny following a recent hoarding collapse at Ghatkopar, they found that those cleared by the BMC are legal and within the permissible size of 40 by 40 feet, whereas the 306 hoardings permitted by the GRP and Western and Central Railway are illegal and lack requisite permission. Of the 306 illegal hoardings, 45 exceed the permissible size of 40x40 ft. Of the 306 illegal hoardings, the BMC had demolished 16 in Dadar TT and at the BPCL petrol pump in Ghatkopar, following the recent hoarding collapse which claimed 17 lives and injured 80.

BMC demolishes the illegal hoardings in Dadar. Pic/Ashish Raje

“BMC has not permitted 306 hoardings, and 45 of them are not of the permissible size. There are talks with the Railways to either remove the hoardings or make them of permissible size. After the incident, we sent a letter to the GRP and demolished 16 such illegal hoardings across Dadar TT and in Ghatkopar. All three hoardings near the petrol pump have been demolished,” said a BMC official on condition of anonymity, citing that the issue regarding the illegal hoardings on railway premises is pending before the court.

In 2017, the Western Railways and others approached the Bombay High Court and stated that the railway authorities should not need permission to raise hoardings within land owned by Railways. The HC ruled that the Railways don’t need BMC’s permission to raise hoardings. However, in a March 2024 affidavit, the BMC argued that the Railways are allowing large hoardings near railway tracks and municipal roads, posing safety risks to the public. The matter is still pending in court.

Ropes placed on illegal hoardings identified by BMC. Pics/Kirti Surve Parade

Meanwhile, sources from the GRP confirmed an exchange of letters between the GRP and the BMC to demolish the illegal hoardings. “After the incident, there have been exchanges of letters, and the BMC has demolished some of the hoardings in our jurisdiction. We have cooperated with them,” said a GRP official. Sources from the Western Railway also said they are in talks with the BMC regarding the hoardings. “There is an exchange of letters, and we are in talks with the BMC about hoardings,” said a spokesperson from the Western Railway.

The BMC officials have identified the illegal hoardings and have placed ropes on them. “We have hired contractors and will remove the illegal hoardings. We inform the Traffic and Railway officials before beginning the work to demolish the hoardings to avoid any hindrance. The process of demolition will continue until all illegal hoardings are demolished,” said the BMC officials.

According to data provided by the BMC, out of the 45 oversized hoardings, 15 are owned by Ego Media, and one such hoarding had collapsed on the BPCL petrol pump. The BMC demolished all three hoardings near the BPCL petrol pump, which were owned by Bhavesh Bhinde, the director of Ego Media.

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