Mumbai: BMC removes 2,291 unauthorised banners and posters in six days

BMC removed 2,291 unauthorised banners, boards and posters from Mumbai between October 8 and 13, as festive-season publicity appeared across prominent parts of the city.

The action followed Mayor Ritu Tawde’s announcement of a zero-tolerance drive against illegal flex banners, hoardings, posters and stickers. The civic body sent complaint letters to police in 13 cases; four FIRs were registered.

Political material accounted for 436 banners, 226 boards and 49 posters removed in the six days. BMC also took down 258 commercial banners, 111 commercial boards and 12 commercial posters.

Its Licence Department had removed 40,172 unauthorised advertisements from January to September this year: 19,409 political, 14,133 religious and 6,630 commercial. September alone saw 3,882 removals. A senior civic official said the drive would continue as banners tend to proliferate during the festive period.