Political Party Hoardings Block Commuter View on Foot Over Bridge at Dockyard Road | FPJ/ Salman Ansari
After failing to effectively curb the installation of illegal political hoardings, the BMC has issued a call to all political parties, urging them to direct their workers to strictly refrain from erecting unauthorised banners and hoardings. In an effort to address the issue, the BMC will be sending ward-wise letters to local representatives appealing to them to adhere to civic regulations and ensure that their supporters comply with the established rules.
In 2024, the city saw an increase in illegal hoardings, banners, and posters, largely due to the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. From January to December 2024, approximately 70,930 illegal advertisements were removed. Despite the police being alerted in 29 cases, no FIRs were registered against the violators, raising questions about accountability. Meanwhile, the BMC’s “Outdoor Advertisement Display” policy, which was drafted in August to address the issue, has yet to be finalised, leaving the city without an effective regulatory framework to manage the rising number of unauthorised advertisements.
“Our ward-level team actively removes any illegal hoardings found at the site, but unfortunately, they reappear the very next day. We have also instructed printers to seek civic permission before printing advertisements that will be displayed on municipal roads or footpaths. To address the issue of illegal political banners, we have decided to appeal to local representatives, including the Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Council, and party presidents, urging them to restrict their party workers from violating rules related to hoarding displays,”said a senior civic official.
A letter sent by the H / West ward to local representatives emphasises the civic policy that prohibits temporary advertisements such as hoardings, banners, boards, and cutouts on roads and footpaths. It further states that if any political party wishes to display hoardings or banners on roads, footpaths, or at BEST bus queue shelters, the necessary permission must be obtained from the concerned authorities, along with the payment of applicable advertisement fees.
The letter also urges adherence to the directions of the Bombay High Court’s(HC) 2017 ruling, which restricts the erection of such hoardings and banners and requests local representatives to ensure their party followers comply with these regulations.
In December 2024, the Bombay HC took strong exception to photographs showing the rapid spread of illegal hoardings by political parties near the High Court complex. The court issued notices to the political parties, directing them to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for violating court orders. The new draft policy introduced by the BMC mandates that no agency or individual can erect or display advertisements like banners, boards, or flags without written permission from the concerned authorities.
Unauthorised displays will be punishable under Section 471 of the BMC Act, 1888, and The Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995. The penalties for violation include up to three months imprisonment, a fine of Rs 2,000, or both.
