Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 14: With thousands of devotees expected to flock to the streets during Ganeshotsav beginning Monday, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed that commercial advertisements and hoardings should not be displayed on roads and footpaths in a manner that obstructs pedestrian or vehicular movement.
Bhide urged Ganpati and Navratri mandals, commercial advertisers, and other festival stakeholders to strictly comply with the guidelines framed by the civic body for displaying advertisements during the festive period.
The directive comes as the BMC intensifies its ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign aimed at improving pedestrian infrastructure across Mumbai in a phased manner. In the initial phase, key footpaths across the city have been identified, with ward-level officials tasked to ensure they remain completely free of encroachments.
Key BMC Guidelines for Festival Advertisements:
Obstruction-Free Pathways: Mandals must ensure that advertisement boards do not block footpaths or impede smooth traffic flow on roadways.
Banned Advertisements: Commercial ads promoting gutka, tobacco products, or other legally prohibited items are strictly forbidden.
Archway Regulations: Commercial advertisements by donors may only be displayed on the left and right vertical pillars of a traditional mandal entrance arch. The top horizontal panel must be reserved exclusively for welcome messages for devotees.
Digital Display Screens: Mandals are permitted to install digital screens up to a maximum size of 10ft x 10ft to stream public-interest, health messages, and commercial ads. However, these installations require prior No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from both the Traffic Police and local police stations.
Commissioner Bhide has directed ward-level administrative teams and the BMC licensing department to strictly monitor compliance and immediately dismantle any advertisement boards that hinder public movement.
The rules will remain in force throughout the festival as well as after the immersion ceremonies. Mandals have been instructed to voluntarily remove all temporary structures and advertisement boards by the day following immersion.
The civic body also appealed to all mandals to maintain discipline in commercial advertising so as not to dilute the religious and social sanctity of the celebrations.