In Borivali west posters wishing Maha Shivratri and the India-EU deal were put up by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Maha Shivratri wishes poster is blocking the signal view of the public, causing motorists inconvenience at Saibabanagar. Taking to X, Mumbaikars complained about it and demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should immediately remove the posters. X users also tagged Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and Union Minister Piyush Goyal in the post, demanding that the banners be removed from the traffic signal. An X user sharing the image of the traffic signal being blocked by the banners wrote on X, "When was Mahashivratri? When was India-Eu deal signed? Why are these banners still there blocking the traffic signal @ Saibabanagar Borivali West?? @mybmc @PiyushGoyal @BJP4India @mayor_mumbai"
BMC responded on this issue and replied to the X user, "We understand your concern. We have intimated @mybmcWardRC to attend this."
A similar incident was reported by an X user on February 13 from Andheri. In Mumbai’s Andheri area, a large banner put up for a religious event on February 15 was found obstructing a traffic signal, causing inconvenience to commuters. Several residents took to X to raise concerns and urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to remove the poster without delay. The banner, installed near Old Nagar Das Road in Andheri East, partially blocked the view of the traffic signal for motorists and pedestrians. Obstructing traffic signals poses a serious safety hazard, as it increases the risk of accidents and can potentially result in significant damage and injuries.
Illegal banners and posters continue to be a persistent problem for Mumbaikars. Last month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) at Gamdevi Police Station, Malabar Hill Police Station and Dr Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Marg Police Station after removing 41 illegally installed banners from various public locations across South Mumbai. The civic body’s licence department launched action against unidentified persons and sought police intervention to deter repeat violations. The crackdown forms part of a larger initiative to check the unauthorised display of advertisements in public spaces.
The removal operation was carried out on January 21 and 22 under the supervision of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special) Chanda Jadhav. While the corporation has earmarked specific spots for temporary advertisements, several organisations, institutions and commercial establishments had erected banners without prior approval, particularly on roadside electricity poles. Authorities stated that such installations breach civic regulations and mar the city’s visual environment. In the D Ward, illegal banners were cleared from key stretches including Peddar Road, Pandita Ramabai Marg, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Walkeshwar, Malabar Hill, Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Marg, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road and Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road. Officials emphasised that these displays had been put up without obtaining the mandatory permissions from the corporation.