The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday restarted its campaign to eliminate unauthorized hoardings throughout the city, aiming to remove more than 200 illegal structures from public spaces by the end of June, according to officials.
Initial Actions and Targets
The operation began with the dismantling of two large hoardings at Rasulgarh and Cuttack Road, following complaints about safety hazards and breaches of civic regulations. Officials stated that the initiative will be stepped up in the coming weeks, with a particular focus on major arterial roads.
To accelerate the process, the BMC has enlisted three specialized agencies tasked with cutting and dismantling illegal hoardings placed on road dividers, footpaths, and other public properties.
Agency Role and Enforcement
These agencies will support the enforcement teams in removing hoardings that lack approval or violate size, location, or structural safety norms. The identification of illegal hoardings has been completed, and they will be taken down in phases, a BMC official explained.
The crackdown follows increasing safety concerns about oversized and poorly maintained hoardings, particularly after a fatal incident in Aiginia in February, where a man lost his life when a large display hoarding collapsed during gusty winds. Civic officials noted that many hoardings were erected without proper permission or structural certification, endangering commuters, pedestrians, and nearby shops, especially during the pre-monsoon season characterized by sudden squally winds.
Mayor’s Statement
Our priority is to ensure public safety. Illegal hoardings will not be allowed to remain, regardless of ownership. We have been periodically removing these hoardings, and now the drive will be intensified, said city mayor Sulochana Das.
The civic body has warned advertisers and property owners to voluntarily remove unauthorized hoardings. Failure to do so will result in enforcement actions, including penalties and legal proceedings.
Completion Timeline
Officials said the BMC plans to complete the current phase of the drive before the onset of the monsoon, when strong winds and heavy rainfall increase the risk of hoarding collapses.
