Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has filed four First Information Reports (FIRs) in Kherwadi, Vile Parle, Samata Nagar and Dahisar police stations against advertising agencies for using the traffic signage space on the Western and Eastern Express Highways (WEH & EEH) for placing advertising hoardings illegally.
These gantries are supposed to display only signage about the distance, direction, and destination guiding motorists. However, it was observed by the authority that the two agencies – M/s Global Advertisers and M/s Catalyst Advertising & Marketing Pvt.Ltd – was using this space illegally.
According to MMRDA, these two agencies were also sent a warning notice about the illegal activity. Despite that, they continued to do so, which prompted them to file an FIR. In a bid to make sure no other entity should do such illegal activity this action has been taken, indicated an official of MMRDA. Moreover, the FIR has been filed only after the two advertising agencies even after repeated warnings continued to put hoarding illegally. In April the MMRDA had investigated the case, following which hoardings that were put illegally at Dahisar, Santacruz, Kherwadi, Vile Parle and Vakola were removed from the WEH. Similarly, on EEH one hoarding was removed that was raised at Postal Colony in Chembur.
In the past mishap due to the hoarding collapse had been reported. In Pune last year, a 40-feet hoarding metal frame collapsed on vehicles which had stopped at Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk traffic signal near Pune Railway Station that claimed four people lives and five others were left severely injured. Considering the tragic incidents that took place the MMRDA as a preventive measure is now taking action. The officials believe the illegal hoardings not only add burden to the structure but also intensifies the possibility of such mishaps.
