Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has reduced the annual no-advertisement period for iron hoarding structures from 60 days to 15 days this year following opposition from hoarding owners in 2025.Under a fresh circular issued by the civic body, hoarding owners have been instructed to remove all advertisement displays between May 15 and June 1 as a precautionary measure against accidents caused by strong winds during pre-monsoon activity or unseasonal rain.Civic officials said gusty winds are commonly witnessed during this period, increasing the risk of hoarding collapses if flex boards remain mounted on iron structures.Rajesh Agale, deputy municipal commissioner and the head of PCMC’s sky sign department, said a meeting was held on April 21, led by joint city engineer Manoj Lonkar and attended by civic officials and representatives of the hoarding owners’ association.“It was mutually decided that instead of 60 days, hoardings would remain without ads for 15 days so that owners do not suffer major financial losses,” Agale said.He added that owners were also asked to take preventive measures such as creating holes in flex boards mounted on iron structures so that wind can pass through them even before May 15. They were also advised to undertake regular maintenance and structural stability works during the period to ensure the hoardings remain safe.Last year, the civic body had directed hoarding owners to remove ads from April 15 to June 15. However, compliance was poor, with many owners claiming financial losses as they had paid annual civic fees but were unable to display ads.
