Eknath Shinde orders removal of illegal hoardings across Thane after hoarding accident

Eknath Shinde. File Pic

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the Thane Municipal Corporation to immediately remove all illegal hoardings across the city following the hoarding accident that occurred in Thane on Tuesday.

After taking cognisance of the incident, Shinde spoke to the Thane Municipal Commissioner and instructed civic authorities to launch an immediate drive against unauthorised hoardings. He also ordered a structural audit of all large hoardings in the city to assess their safety, particularly in view of the ongoing monsoon and the risk posed by strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Structural audit to assess safety of large hoardings

The Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that the structural audit is carried out without delay to prevent similar incidents in the future. He also instructed the administration to identify hoardings that pose a safety risk and initiate appropriate legal action against both hazardous structures and those responsible for installing illegal billboards.

Civic body begins enforcement drive

Acting on the directions, the Thane Municipal Corporation launched a city-wide enforcement drive to remove illegal hoardings. According to officials, the operation has been underway since Tuesday night, with civic teams carrying out action against unauthorised structures across the city.

Earlier hoarding collapse disrupted traffic

The latest action follows an incident on July 6 when a massive hoarding collapsed in Thane after strong winds swept through the city.

The collapse disrupted vehicular movement on one of the city's busy roads, prompting an immediate response from the traffic police.

Police personnel reached the site shortly after the incident and began managing traffic while civic authorities worked to remove the fallen structure and clear the roadway.

Focus on monsoon preparedness

Municipal authorities have intensified inspections of vulnerable public infrastructure as heavy rainfall and gusty winds continue to affect several parts of Maharashtra.

The removal of illegal hoardings and the structural audit of large billboards form part of Thane Municipal Corporation's broader monsoon preparedness measures aimed at reducing potential hazards and preventing weather-related accidents. Officials are expected to continue monitoring advertising structures and take action wherever safety violations are detected.