BMC tells Mumbai mandals to clear festival advertising by day after immersion

Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav and Navratri mandals must remove advertising boards by the day after immersion under BMC norms aimed at keeping footpaths and roads clear during the festival season.

The BMC has asked mandals and advertisers not to install commercial hoardings that obstruct pedestrians or traffic under its ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign. The civic administration and licensing department will enforce the rules and remove obstructive boards.

Advertisements for gutkha, tobacco products and other prohibited goods are barred. Donor advertisements may appear only on the vertical sections of traditional entrance gates. The upper horizontal section may carry the message, “Heartfelt Welcome to Devotees”. The BMC has also encouraged mandals to use advertising space for social and civic-awareness messages.

Digital screens measuring up to 10 ft by 10 ft may be installed for public-interest, health-related or commercial messages, but require no-objection certificates from the traffic department and the local police station.