Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Former GRP chief allowed hoarding work without permission from DGP office: Police

The officer confirmed that the matter came to light in early 2023, after the new GRP commissioner Ravindra Shisve took charge and discovered the alleged irregularity. “He ordered an internal inquiry, analysed the project documents and submitted a report to the DGP office about the same,” the senior IPS officer told The Indian Express on condition of anonymity.

Based on this report, the DGP office then issued a show-cause notice to Khalid, an ADG rank IPS officer now serving in the Mahar-ashtra Protection of Civil Rights.

When contacted, Khalid told The Indian Express, “I received the show-cause notice only today. By mistake they had sent to Pune office though I am in Mumbai. So I got it today. I would respond to it at the earliest. I would, however, like to say that the hoarding is an integral part of the petrol pump design, which was approved by the DGP office and I had only changed the hoarding operator to ensure the GRP gets revenue from the same.”

Meanwhile, Director General (DG) Railways Pradnya Sarvade on Wednesday submitted an internal inquiry report to the DGP office and home department. Sources aware of the development confirmed that in the report, Sarvade has mentioned “negligence” on the part of some current and former GRP officials.

The source said that the DGP will take cognisance of the report and take appropriate action against those found responsible for the negligence.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sarvade confirmed that she has submitted the report to the DGP office and the home department. She, however, declined to speak further on the report.

Police officials investigating the matter said that in 2023, a team from the BMC had inspected the hoarding site and raised objections regarding its structural stability and its size, which exceeded the permissible limits. The same was communicated to Ego Media Pvt Ltd. However, when the company said that they had the permission from GRP, the BMC raised it with the GRP.

The GRP responded to their communication saying that the BMC cannot take action against any structure on a GRP property covered under the Railways Act. As the mattter was taken to court by the BMC, and was ruled in favour of GRP in the High Court, the matter around jurisdiction, is currently in the Supreme Court.

On July 12, 2021, while mentioning the terms and conditions of the allotment of the site, the GRP, in its letter to Ego Media Pvt Ltd, said, “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.”

The advertiser had, however, presented a structural stability certificate issued by City Engineering Services (CES) dated April 24, 2023 to GRP and other concern departments.

The certificate, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, stated, “This is to certify that the 120 Ft x 70 Ft DD-DS (5 Poles) at GRP Land, has been designed in accordance to take care of wind forces as per IS: 875 (Part IM), 2015. The connection details have been designed as per IS: 00-2007. The foundation for the hoarding has also been designed in accordance with the provisions made in IS: 456-2000. Hence, the above-mentioned hoarding is structurally safe and stable for the purposes intended.”

A senior GRP officer said that it is the advertiser’s responsibility to get the structure’s stability report from BMC. “The advertiser got it done from the structural audit firm, which is on the BMC panel, hence the same was accepted then,” the officer said.

When asked if the hoardings on GRP lands have other standards or criteria for the dimensions of the hoarding (as size limit of the hoarding was not mentioned in the term and conditions for the contract), a senior GRP officer said that the GRP generally asks the contractor to get all the clearance from the BMC.