Pune: After Hoarding Incident In Mumbai, PMC On High Alert
Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 14th May 2024: On Monday, 14 people lost their lives as a hoarding collapsed during a storm in Ghatkopar, Mumbai. This incident has raised concerns about safety, with numerous individuals sustaining injuries and over 100 citizens trapped under the debris. Responding to the urgency, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sprung into action, taking swift measures to prevent a similar tragedy in Pune city.
Municipal Commissioner Dr Rajendra Bhosale has mandated a comprehensive audit of all hoardings across Pune, which currently stands at a total of 2,500. The process of gathering information about these hoardings is underway, with a keen focus on identifying unauthorized structures. Any hoarding found to be operating without proper authorization will face immediate license cancellation and subsequent legal action, particularly those deemed hazardous.
While the city permits 2,500 hoardings, a significant number of unauthorized installations have been discovered. As investigations continue, it has been ordered to pursue legal action against any unauthorized hoardings, with a particular concentration in the Hadapsar area, where most of these unauthorized structures are located.
Out of the 2,598 official hoardings in the city, only 85 have been found to be unauthorized. To date, the Pune Municipality has audited 2,300 hoardings, leading to the removal of 1,564 unauthorized ones. Further enforcement action against unauthorized hoardings is anticipated in the near future.
