PMC Begins Action Against 28 Illegal Hoardings Along MSRDC Roads Nearly Two Years After Cancelling Permissions

Nearly two years after their permissions were revoked, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has finally initiated action against 28 large advertisement hoardings erected within the right of way (ROW) of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) roads in its jurisdiction.

The civic body has issued a public notice directing the hoarding owners to remove the structures within seven days, failing which the PMC will dismantle them and recover the demolition expenses, pending advertisement charges and penalties from the concerned parties.

Permissions Cancelled In 2024, But Structures Remained

The permissions for these hoardings were cancelled on September 6, 2024. However, despite notices being issued to the owners, the structures remained in place and no physical action was taken.

The issue came under the spotlight during the PMC general body meeting held in July, where Leader of Opposition Arvind Mhatre questioned the administration over the delay in removing the illegal hoardings. He asked why the civic body had failed to act despite the permissions being cancelled nearly two years ago and warned that waiting until an accident occurred would amount to administrative negligence. He also referred to two incidents in which hoardings had collapsed and highlighted the potential safety risks posed by the remaining structures, particularly near Middleclass locality and Kalamboli village.

Following the discussion, the issue was highlighted in media reports on July 28, prompting further action by the administration.

According to the PMC, a total of 32 large hoardings had been erected within the MSRDC road corridor. Four have already been removed, while the remaining 28 continue to stand.

Safety Concerns Raised Over Remaining Hoardings

In a public notice issued on August 4, Additional Municipal Commissioner Maheshkumar Meghmale directed all concerned hoarding owners to voluntarily remove the structures within seven days. The notice states that if the owners fail to comply, the PMC will remove the hoardings at their cost and recover the outstanding advertisement fees along with applicable penalties.

During the general body meeting, Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale informed corporators that the PMC had written to the MSRDC on 10 to 12 occasions regarding the issue. He said the civic body would proceed with action after responsibility for the structures was clearly established.

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