Days after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) published its draft policy on outdoor advertising in Mumbai, residents of South Mumbai have taken a stand against potential hoardings along the city’s newly constructed coastal road. A petition launched online by Rajesh Dahiya, a member of the Breach Candy Residents Forum and chairman of a housing society, has garnered nearly 5,000 signatures.
The petition argues that the installation of hoardings would not only detract from the scenic beauty of the coastal road but also pose a safety risk. “[Installation of hoardings] would not only spoil the aesthetics but also potentially distract drivers, leading to an increase in accidents along this buzzing thoroughfare,” the petition states. Additionally, the petition highlights the environmental impact of hoarding production and disposal.
The petition has garnered support from residents of Breach Candy, Worli, and Nepeansea Road, who view the coastal road as a vital part of their community’s heritage and a cherished sight for residents and tourists alike. Dahiya emphasizes that the locals have enjoyed unobstructed views of the sea long before the coastal road project was even conceived, and allowing these hoardings would “turn the scenic landscape into another Western Express Highway.”
The BMC, however, maintains that no hoardings have been proposed for the reclaimed land along the coastal road. Officials confirm that four hoardings were approved on the former Tata Garden land, but due to its location within coastal regulation zone-2, the company awarded the 10-year contract for the hoardings is awaiting permission from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray has demanded the scrapping of the contract.
Despite the BMC’s statement, residents remain steadfast in their opposition, with Nandini Chabria, another member of the residents’ forum, stating, “We don’t want hoardings anywhere along our locality.” The residents are planning to meet with the authorities to further express their concerns and advocate for the preservation of the scenic coastal road.
