Mumbai: The residents of Breach Candy and Napean Sea Road have written an open letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, urging them to revoke the approval granted by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) for the installation of advertising hoardings along the Coastal Road.
The residents argue that this decision threatens both the aesthetic value and safety of the infrastructure, and they have filed an online petition highlighting their concerns. They believe that the move violates good governance principles, environmental laws, and public safety regulations.
The MCZMA approved the BMC's proposal to install hoardings in South Mumbai, near Tata Garden, Amazon Garden, and Lala Lajpatrai Garden, aiming to generate Rs 1 crore per month in revenue. The approval includes conditions such as placing the hoardings on the landward side of the road or existing structures, with the BMC tasked with ensuring compliance.
However, South Mumbai residents have strongly opposed the decision, filing an online petition. Within a day, around 925 residents signed the petition started by local resident Rajesh Dahiya, titled "We Don't Need No Advert Hoardings on Coastal Road..Hey Govt., Leave Us Residents Alone."
The petition raises concerns that hoardings on the coastal road will distract drivers, increasing accident risks with flashing lights. It argues that installing hoardings in ecologically sensitive areas violates Supreme Court rulings against visual pollution and harms the natural environment, contributing to light pollution.
The petition also claims that the hoardings would degrade the coastal road’s visual appeal, turning it into an eyesore and undermining years of investment. Allowing hoardings in the CRZ prioritizes commercial interests over ecological preservation, setting a dangerous precedent for commercialising other public spaces in Mumbai.
The petitioners have demanded that decisions affecting public spaces involve citizen participation. They urge authorities to uphold the spirit of Supreme Court judgments and CRZ laws, ensuring public infrastructure remains free from commercial exploitation.
The petition calls for the Coastal Road to remain a symbol of Mumbai’s progress and pride, not a billboard-laden stretch of commercialism. Earlier, activists raised concerns and appealed to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to impose a stay on the implementation of the MCZMA's approval for the hoardings along the Coastal Road.
