Mumbai: Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane has directed the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) to adopt a strict and vigilant approach regarding the use of its land, especially concerning the installation of hoardings and advertising.
Speaking at a meeting held at the Mantralaya to discuss a policy for the commercial use of MMB lands, Minister Rane emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy for erecting hoardings and managing advertisements on properties under the MMB’s jurisdiction.
Minister Rane stressed that the policy should aim to generate maximum revenue from hoardings, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. “A revenue target of at least Rs. 100 crore should be set through hoardings. The process must encourage competitiveness through open bidding,” he said.
He further suggested that the MMB should consider installing hoardings on its own and auctioning advertising rights to boost income. Additionally, commercial use of MMB land must be strictly regulated. “All leases should be granted through a transparent bidding process to ensure fair competition,” he added.
Rane also pointed out that in many cases, businesses have been operating on the same land for years without paying proper rent as per norms. He instructed that strict action should be taken against the responsible officials in such instances. Present at the meeting were MMB CEO P. Pradeep, Administrative Officer Pradeep Badiye, and other board officials.
