BMC appoints agency to conduct structural audit of Ghatkopar hoarding

Meanwhile, the BMC’s N ward, which covers Ghatkopar area, sent a notice to the private agency which issued a certificate in April last year certifying the strutural stability of the billboard to Ego Media — the agency that installed the billboard.

“You had issued a structural stability certificate to the agency whose billboard collapsed on May 13. The incident resulted in loss of life and it indicates that the certificate was issued without proper analysis which is negligence from your end,” the BMC’s notice read.

The contractual agreement between Egomedia Pvt Ltd and Government Railway Police (GRP), which had leased out their land to the agency for setting up the billboard, mandated that the responsibility of the structural assessment lay with the private agency.

“You shall be solely responsible for the structural stability of the display board. You will be responsible for maintaining the structure in good condition and any loss or damage arising out of negligence, you will be responsible for the same, especially considering the climatic conditions of the area,” read the clause in the contract.

“The study by VJTI is also being carried out to understand the technical aspects, which will help us frame the BMC’s set of guidelines for installing billboard and hoardings, that is due for review,” said another civic official.

The hoarding collapsed on Monday evening after rainfall, coupled with dusty winds, lashed Mumbai. The 120 feet billboard also violated the BMC’s rules which caps the maximum size of  hoardings at 40 feet. Eyewitnesses who were present at the spot said the billboard looked like a whole tree getting ‘uprooted’ as it came down crashing.

Meanwhile, the BMC authorities have informed that they have started taking action against unauthorised billboards across Mumbai.

Currently, Mumbai has 1,075 hoardings, of which 573 are non-illuminated, 382 are illuminated and 70 are LED hoardings. Last year, the BMC generated over Rs 100 crores from licensed hoardings in Mumbai.

On Wednesday, civic officials said two hoardings were removed in Malad that were erected without permission from the BMC. Besides this, three more hoardings were removed from Chheda Nagar and Ghatkopar that were erected without authorisation from the civic body.

“The BMC is carrying a survey of all existing billboards and hoardings at the ward level. Any structure that is found not matching the BMC’s size specifications is being pulled down. We have also written to the Central and Western railways, asking them to inspect and audit the hoardings that have been erected on their land parcels,” said a statement issued by the BMC.