Mumbai: With thousands of devotees expected to take to the streets during Ganeshotsav beginning Monday, BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed that advertisements should not be displayed on roads and footpaths in a manner that obstructs pedestrian movement.Bhide has urged Ganpati and Navratri mandals, advertisers, and other stakeholders to strictly follow the rules laid down by the BMC for displaying commercial advertisements during the festivals.The directive comes as the civic administration steps up its ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, under which various measures are being taken to improve pedestrian movement across Mumbai in phases. In the first phase, a dedicated number of footpaths across Mumbai have been identified with ward-level officials asked to ensure that they stay encroachment-free.Under the BMC rules, mandals have been asked to ensure that advertisements do not obstruct pedestrians on footpaths or vehicular movement on roads. Advertisements for gutka, tobacco products, and other prohibited products should also be avoided. Commercial advertisements by donors may be displayed on the left and right vertical portions of a traditional mandal entrance gate, while the upper horizontal portion can carry a message welcoming devotees. Mandals can also install digital screens of up to 10ftx10ft to display public-interest and health messages, as well as commercial advertisements. However, this will be subject to obtaining no-objection certificates from the traffic police department and the local police station.Bhide has directed the ward-level administration and the licensing department to ensure compliance with the rules and remove advertisement boards that obstruct pedestrian movement.The rules will continue to apply during the festival as well as after immersion. Mandals have been asked to remove advertisement boards on their own by the day after immersion.The BMC also appealed to mandals to ensure that commercial advertising during festivals is carried out in a disciplined manner without diluting the religious and social character of the celebrations.
