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A Mumbai court has granted bail to advertising firm director Bhavesh Bhinde, the prime accused in the case of a hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar area here that claimed 17 lives in May this year.

Additional Sessions Judge V M Pathade allowed Bhinde's bail plea on Saturday.
Bhinde, through his lawyer Sana Khan, had contended the unfortunate incident was an "act of God", and that he was implicated for "political vendetta".

The hoarding installed in Ghatkopar area collapsed due to "unexpected, unusual wind speed" and no fault can be attributed to the applicant (whose firm had installed it), advocate Khan argued.
	
It was also submitted that Bhinde was not the firm's director at the time of installation of the gigantic hoarding.

Bhinde has been booked on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The prosecution opposed bail to Bhinde, saying there was enough evidence to show he was actively involved in the case.

Seventeen persons, including a former general manager of the Mumbai airport's Air Traffic Control and his wife, died after the billboard crashed onto a petrol pump on May 13 during sudden dusty winds and unseasonal rains.

It was alleged that the hoarding had been put up illegally on railway land.

Ghatkopar hoarding collapse: Prime accused Bhinde gets bail

In a shocking incident, a 35-year-old woman was severely injured after an iron hoarding frame collapsed in Vasai West. The woman was rushed to the hospital with severe head injuries. Manickpur police is investigating the matter. The incident took place at Vasai West’s 100 feet road in the early hours of October 17. The woman was passing by when the hoarding frame collapsed. Local police is yet to ascertain the matter. 

Raju Mane, Senior Police Inspector told Storyboard18 that the woman has been rushed to the hospital after the incident. “We will probe the matter and register the case upon receiving the complaint.” 

After the Ghatkopar incident, the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation had issued notices to hoarding contractors to conduct structural audits. There are around 791 legal hoarding installations in the city. After a survey conducted in Vasai Virar in 2023, out of 30,000 hoardings only 335 were found to be legally erected. 

Currently 335 individuals have been given permissions to erect hoardings in the city of Vasai-Virar. 

On May 13, a hoarding in Ghatkopar collapsed leading to the death of 17 people. On August 2, the frame of a 40x40 ft billboard collapsed at Sahajanand Chowk in Kalyan West. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/tags/freeourskylines">Read more: Free Our Skylines</a>

Breaking: Hoarding collapse in Vasai injures woman

Over four months after the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse, which killed 17 people and injured 80 others, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has yet to implement a comprehensive Out of Home (OOH) advertising policy. BMC officials are currently reviewing feedback and suggestions from OOH agencies and plan to exclude central agencies from the policy’s scope.

Outdoor advertising agencies and associations have claimed that the BMC has been unresponsive to their requests for in-person meetings to discuss their concerns about the recently released draft OOH policy. The newly drafted and revised policy has drawn mixed reactions from the advertising industry and sparked debates about the clarity of its guidelines.

When asked if the BMC is considering scrapping the OOH ad policy, Kiran Dighavkar, DMC (Special), stated, "We are reviewing the feedback and suggestions from stakeholders. There are no plans to scrap the OOH ad policy. We are ensuring that all relevant and legal measures are in place."

Another senior BMC official added, "The suggestions and feedback submitted by the OOH agencies and central agencies are under review. We will exclude central government agencies from the policy’s scope, as it conflicts with existing laws and court orders."

The official also mentioned, "We will soon convene a meeting with stakeholders. We have already identified certain changes that need to be made in the draft policy."

However, an OOH agency owner, speaking anonymously, said, "We work closely with the railways on OOH ad installations, and the BMC seems desperate to include central agencies like the railways in their OOH policy. Multiple senior railway officials have said that BMC is trying to leverage on the Ghatkopar incident to include the central agencies."

The Indian Outdoor Advertising Association had requested that the BMC extend the deadline for submitting suggestions by two months. The draft policy, released on August 9, was initially open for public suggestions until August 26, 5 PM. The deadline was later extended to September 9.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/tags/freeourskylines">Read more on #FreeOurSkylines</a>

BMC reviewing feedback from OOH ad agencies, will exclude central agencies

The Mumbai Traffic Police Department, which issues No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for installing out-of-home (OOH) hoardings in the city, has put all new proposals on hold until the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) finalizes the policy on Guidelines for Display of Outdoor Advertisements 2024.

The BMC's guidelines for hoardings state that no illuminated, digital, LED, or LCD advertisements shall be permitted without an NOC from the Mumbai Traffic Police Department. Once issued, the Traffic Police Department’s NOC shall be considered permanent unless specifically revoked with prior notice to the BMC’s License Department.

According to a senior officer in the Mumbai Traffic Police Department, suggestions for the policy included that the hoardings should not obstruct pedestrian movement, and no hoardings will be allowed on footpaths. The department has also recommended that video advertisements be prohibited, gantries within city limits should only display traffic signage, and flasher lights on hoardings, which could distract drivers, should not be allowed.

Similarly, the traffic police have suggested that illuminated and Digital hoardings should be switched off at 11 p.m. A senior officer from the Mumbai Traffic Police Department on condition of anonymity said, “Until the new policy regarding hoardings is finalized, we have stopped issuing NOCs for installing OOH hoardings in the city. We are waiting for final approval from the BMC on the policy. We have suggested certain requirements that OOH agencies and permit holders need to meet before we conduct inspections to grant NOCs.”

The officer said, “During our meeting with the BMC, we made it clear that hoardings with flasher lights on highways or city roads will not be permitted as they distract motorists.”

Civic data shows that Mumbai is home to 1,045 authorized hoardings, of which 573 are non-illuminated, 382 are illuminated, and 70 are LED hoardings. These hoardings generated a revenue of Rs 100 crore last year.

A government panel was formed to establish guidelines for billboards in Mumbai. Members include Rakesh Kumar, who previously worked at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and now serves as the environmental specialist on the panel, along with Avjit Maji and Nagendra Rao Velaga from IIT Bombay, and Shreekumar from the Industrial Design Department.

The panel is led by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi, along with Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare, BMC's Deputy Commissioner (Special) Kiran Dighavkar, and Superintendent of License Anil Kate as members.

Exclusive: Mumbai Police freezes ‘No Objection Certificates’ for OOH hoardings

After facing severe opposition from South Mumbai residents to install hoardings near the coastal road, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) committee has deferred its plans on account of non-compliance of documents in a recently held meeting.
 
The MCZMA is a body that clears projects in coastal areas of the state that are governed by the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) of the Environment Protection Act. The four hoardings, with a display on both sides, were to come up at Tata Garden in Breach Candy and Lala Lajpat Rai Park near Haji Ali.

Breach Candy Residents Forum had also initiated a protest against the plan to install hoardings alongside the coastal road, collecting over 5,000 signatures via online protest petitions. 

Padmakar Nandekar, former secretary general and member of Cuffe Parade Residents Association (CPRA) said, “We strongly opposed BMC’s plan to install hoardings alongside the coastal roads. It is in violation of CRZ norms and it is risky to put up such hoardings. Moreover, the existing hoardings in the city is already a nuisance, this will further add to our woes.”  

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray had also protested the plans of BMC to install hoardings alongside the coastal road. state government. According to the minutes of the meeting, the BMC said that several local governments and state and central government agencies had utilised their open space to generate revenue by leasing it to agencies to display advertisements.

The tender was called for after the approval of the then municipal commissioner I S Chahal on April 21, 2023. Bizlist Advertising LLP was given the contract for the Tata Garden hoarding.

According to the minutes, the MCZMA noted that the Coastal Regulation Zone map in a 1:4000 scale with superimposition of the project site and a report prepared by the ministry of environment and forests and climate change as per the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan, 2019, had not been submitted by the BMC. Hence it was deferred. The hoardings at Lala Lajpat Rai Park were also rejected on the same grounds.

As per a CRZ notification and a Supreme Court order, reclaimed lands cannot be commercialised. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation had similar plans to have hoardings at Bandra Promenade was also stopped.

South Mumbai residents oppose hoardings on coastal road, MCZMA defers its plans

On Wednesday evening, Ganesh mandals across Mumbai city met Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to discuss multiple issues including the permissions required to install hoardings in the pandals during Ganeshotsav. The Ganesh mandals have assured that the hoardings installed across the pandals will be small in size as compared to earlier and will not hinder traffic movement. 

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Guardian Minister of Mumbai City District, Deepak Kesarkar were present during the meeting at Sahyadri state guest house. Senior bureaucrats from BMC, State government and Maharashtra police were also present during the meeting. 

Ganesh Pandals in Mumbai have raised multiple issues in the meeting including potholes and hoardings. Naresh Dahibhavkar, President of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), said, "We will be abiding by the rules and regulations framed by BMC and Mumbai Traffic Police Department regarding hoardings and Digital OOH." 

Dahibhavkar said, "During the meeting we have raised the issue discussed that we face difficulty in acquiring permissions to put up Digital hoardings. We have been informed that the Traffic police will follow all SOPs before giving the permission and will ensure a speedy permission process." 

Dahibhavkar said, "Chief Minister Shinde has instructed the government officials to open a single window for all permissions and clearances. We have assured the government that there will be no hindrance to traffic. We will also ensure that the hoardings and banners installed near the pandals are secure and will not cause any safety issues to devotees." 

Dahibhavkar further said, "Smaller hoardings will be installed which are safe. We also make sure that the fire brigade department grants us adequate permissions for such precautions."  

Senior committee member of a Ganesh mandal from South Mumbai said, "We have been told by the BMC to install smaller hoardings as compared to earlier. We definitely agree to that but the issue around Digital hoardings need to be considered as we don't violate any traffic laws. If we compare Digital OOH put across the city, the size is huge and that causes visual hindrance while driving vehicles. BMC and Mumbai police should focus on such hoardings rather than putting restrictions around Ganesh pandals."

Many pandals in Mumbai are already facing penalties regarding digging roads and violating noise pollution norms. Another prominent mandal from North Mumbai said, "We don't want to violate any law further and would definitely follow the rules and regulations set by BMC and Traffic Police. We want the celebrations to be peaceful and not cause any nuisance to the government."

In 2023, the BMC gave permissions to more than 2,700 mandals across the city to set up pandals. BMC had received 3,767 applications. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has instructed the government officials to provide all facilities such as fire brigade, ambulances and other facilities free of cost to pandals which receives huge number of devotees. 

EXCLUSIVE: Ganesh pandals meet Maha Chief Minister, discuss OOH hoardings

The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the arrest of Bhavesh Bhinde, the director of Ego Media advertising agency responsible for erecting a hoarding in Ghatkopar that collapsed on May 13 and led to the deaths of 17 people.

A Bench comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande ruled against Bhinde’s contention that his detention prior to May 17 (the official date of his arrest) was unlawful, stating there was nothing to support his claim of illegal detention.

The Court said that there was no impairment in the mandated procedure, no legal infirmity in remand orders, and no merits in the contention that his arrest was illegal.

Bhinde, the director of Ego Media Pvt. Ltd., had sought interim bail and requested the quashing of the first information report (FIR), which accused him of committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

"The IMD bulletin failed to predict the severe dust storms with gusty winds that hit Mumbai on the fateful day. On account of the aforesaid, the said hoarding collapsed and not due to improper, faulty construction of the same as wrongly, falsely alleged in the said FIR," his plea said.

The "unexpected and unprecedented wind speeds of up to 96 kmph" caused the hoarding to collapse, an event for which neither he nor Ego Media could be held accountable, insisted the petition. As per his plea, the hoarding was legally installed after securing all requisite permissions from relevant authorities.

Bhinde was arrested under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 338 (negligence and hurting), 337 (endangering human life), and 34 (criminal act done by several people with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.


Ghatkopar hoarding case: Bombay HC finds no merit in claims of Ego Media owner, dismisses plea

The Bombay High Court said that it would pass an order on August 9 on a petition filed by Director of M/s Ego Media Pvt Ltd, the advertising firm managed by Bhavesh Bhinde, an accused in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case. Citing the India Meteorological Department 's bulletin issued on May 12, Bhinde claimed IMD failed to correctly predict the weather of the next day.

A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande, which heard the plea, reserved its order and said it would be delivered on Friday. Bhinde has sought that the FIR registered against him be quashed, claiming the May 13 hoarding collapse in suburban Ghatkopar, which killed 17 persons, was an "act of God" and hence he cannot be held responsible for the crash. 

"The IMD bulletin failed to predict the severe dust storms with gusty winds that hit Mumbai on the fateful day. On account of the aforesaid, the said hoarding collapsed and not due to improper, faulty construction of the same as wrongly, falsely alleged in the said FIR," his plea said. 

The "unexpected and unprecedented wind speeds of up to 96 kmph" caused the hoarding to collapse, an event for which neither he nor Ego Media could be held accountable, insisted the petition. As per his plea, the hoarding was legally installed after securing all requisite permissions from relevant authorities.

Bhinde was arrested under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 338 (negligence and hurting), 337 (endangering human life), and 34 (criminal act done by several people with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. 

Bhinde has pleaded for release on interim bail pending hearing of the plea.


Hoarding Collapse: Bombay HC to decide fate of Ego Media Director’s release on August 9

The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) filed a complaint against Guru Advertising, the OOH advertising agency. Earlier this morning, an oversized wooden hoarding collapsed at Sahajanand Chowk of Kalyan, the incident left two people with minor injuries and a few vehicles damaged. KDMC alleged that the contractor did not follow standard operating procedure to maintain the hoarding site. 

According to Mahatma Phule Police station officers, KDMC had contracted the advertising site for five years starting 2021. One of the accused in the case has been identified as Rishikesh Dhule, the contractor. The Mahatma Phule police station is conducting the investigations and has registered a case of causing damage and hurt due to negligence. 

Vijay Naik, Police Inspector of Mahatma Phule police station said, "We have registered a case under section 125 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 125A (causing hurt) and 324 (2) (causing damage) of the BNS. The complaint was filed by the ward officer of the KDMC against Guru Advertising. There are 3-4 owners of the agency and we are investigating the matter."

Former Member of Parliament, Dr. Kirit Somaiya visited the hoarding collapse site on Friday afternoon and met KDMC commissioner demanding an audit of all the hoardings and to pull down large hoardings violating norms in one week. He demanded that police officials should strictly deal with the offenders to avoid Ghatkopar like incident. 

In May, the collapse of an illegal ad hoarding in Ghatkopar killed 14 and injured over 75, shook the whole nation. The illegal billboard was roughly 120×120 feet—nearly thrice the permitted size of 40×40 feet.

Ever since then, multiple cities in the country have been taking stringent actions against the placement, size, legality and structure of the hoardings.

Civic bodies in cities including Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Kolhapur, and Navi Mumbai have said to have taken significant steps, including penalties in many cases.

Marketers have come forward to check the bona fide credentials of the OOH vendors they choose to work with. 

Breaking: Kalyan hoarding collapse; KDMC files FIR against OOH agency

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be unveiling a draft policy for the regulation and streamlining of the out-of-home (OOH) media in Mumbai today, July 5th. This follows the tragic Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that took 17 lives and left more than 75 injured.

The draft policy, which is said to have significant implications on OOH advertising in the city, has strict guidelines including no hoardings on rooftops and no ads on glass facades. Additionally, third-party insurance and QR codes with agency details on hoardings are to be mandatory, followed by stringent rules for DOOH also. 

On July 1st, State Minister Uday Samant sent notice to the parliamentary assembly and highlighted that the Maharashtra government will introduce a new policy on hoardings in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. He also mentioned that a committee led by retired chief judge Dilip Bhosle of the Allahabad High Court is looking into the issue.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/railways-and-grp-permitted-306-hoardings-45-of-which-oversized-bmc-report-32922.htm">Railways and GRP permitted 306 hoardings, 45 of which oversized: BMC report</a>

According to the reports, the draft has been prepared in consultation with Ernst & Young and additionally, a seven-member committee including experts from IIT Mumbai has framed rules for luminosity and fixed timings of the DOOH screens.

The draft

The scope of the draft policy by BMC includes balloons, indoor and outdoor displays, shop signages, mobile hoardings, and waterfront hoardings. That apart, some of the major proposals include denial of permission to set up hoardings on rooftops of buildings as well as glass facades, inclusion of QR codes on all billboards, which will have details of the owner, the agency, the date of issuance of the licence, and more. 

The draft policy has also made third-party insurance mandatory, besides drawing up new norms for audit inspection and examination and certification for stability of the new structures. The draft policy has also formulated fresh guidelines for DOOH advertising. Some of the features are:

- No permission for rooftop hoarding displays

- Only V shape back-to-back placement of hoardings is permitted and L shape is excluded
 
- Distance between two hoardings should be of minimum 70 meters
 
- No display allowed on glass walls

- Distance between mobile hoarding and static hoarding placement should not be less than 30 meters

- Mandatory third-party insurance

- Structural audits of all hoardings every two years and geotechnical audits every five years

- Maximum allowable life for hoarding will be 50 years from the first approval

On May 13, in a tragic accident, a 120x120-foot ad hoarding set up by Ego Media in Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar, collapsed at a busy petrol pump following a brief spell of unseasonal rain and strong winds.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the BMC have shown that the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railways approved 306 unauthorised hoardings in the city. 1,225 hoardings have been reported in Mumbai, according to the survey. Furthermore, the 306 hoardings allowed by the GRP and Western and Central Railway are illegal and do not have the requisite permission, in contrast to the hoardings cleared by the BMC, which are legal and fall within the permitted size of 40x40 ft. Of the 306 illegal hoardings, 45 exceed the permissible size of 40x40 ft.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/various-civic-bodies-spur-into-action-to-ensure-safety-of-ad-hoardings-32046.htm">Various civic bodies spur into action to ensure safety of ad hoardings</a>

The incident drew nationwide criticism, forcing various civic bodies spur into action to ensure the safety of ad hoardings. Civic bodies in cities including Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Kolhapur, and Navi Mumbai have taken significant steps to curb the menace of illegal hoardings, over the past few weeks.

HOARDINGS