Civic body bans banners, arches on main roads

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has disallowed mandals from displaying any advertisement banners and arches on main roads during the 10-day Ganpati festival this year.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has disallowed mandals from displaying any advertisement banners and arches on main roads during the 10-day Ganpati festival this year.

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The civic body has also instructed mandals to seek permission from traffic police before displaying them on minor roads.

The BMC said this decision has been taken to ensure that major roads remain in good shape as they are often dug up by mandals to erect the banners and arches. The civic body’s licences department has issued a circular in this regard.

Sharad Bande, superintendent of licences, said, “These mandals often leave dug-up roads and pavements unfilled after erecting banners and arches during the festival. This is why we took the decision to not allow such displays, at least on major roads.”

This decision might pinch the mandals, who often earn enormous sums out of such banners as they are prime advertising spots.

Civic officials said those flouting the circular will be penalised.

Over the past years, the civic body has tried to warn mandals against digging roads to erect banners, arches or even set up their pandals. It has also introduced financial penalties to prevent mandals from attempting to dig roads.

However, as repeated attempts have failed to bring a substantial change and digging activities continue. Thus, civic officials said, the BMC has been forced to enforce a ban on advertisement banners and arches.