Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde conducted a review meeting and gave clear instructions to take strict measures against illegal hoardings and advertisements placed on road. The instructions were made following instructions of Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department.
Following the orders passed by the Hon'ble High Court in the Public Interest Litigation No. 155/2011 on January 31, 2017, and December 19, 2024, regarding the actions taken and being taken on unauthorized advertisement hoardings, banners, and signboards in the state, the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Navi-2, Shri K.H. Govindraj, held a meeting with all the concerned authorities and issued basic instructions.
In the review meeting, Dr Shinde asked the municipal officials to strictly follow the guidelines provided by the Principal Secretary. The Municipal Corporation has designated specific areas for placing advertisement hoardings, banners, and signboards in Navi Mumbai, and the concerned department’s Deputy Commissioner and officials were directed to ensure that the advertisements are placed only in these designated areas and in the prescribed size.
The Commissioner also clarified that the name of the applicant, permission number, location of permission, and the duration of the permission, along with the size of the hoarding and QR code, should be clearly mentioned on the signboards. Additionally, the Commissioner instructed that no banners should be displayed anywhere in the department's jurisdiction without prior permission. Strict action will be taken under the city beautification law if unauthorized signboards are displayed.
These instructions will also be communicated to printing presses involved in producing advertisement hoardings, banners, and signboards. As all political parties have already submitted affidavits on this matter, the Commissioner also advised that all political party leaders in Navi Mumbai be informed accordingly.
In this regard, the Commissioner instructed that a meeting of the committee established for each department be held and made it known that a Public Grievance System is operational on the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s website (www.nmmconline.com) to facilitate citizens in filing complaints.
“Citizens or organizations wishing to place advertisement hoardings, banners, or signboards are urged to obtain the proper permission from the relevant department and display them at the designated locations and sizes mentioned in the permission,” Commissioner said. Additionally, the Commissioner highlighted that legal action will be taken under the Maharashtra Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1995, for unauthorized advertisement hoardings, banners, and signboards found in the city.