BMC Tightens Festival Ad Norms As Lakhs Expected On Mumbai Streets For Ganeshotsav, Navratri

Mumbai's civic administration, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has introduced stricter norms for advertising during the upcoming Ganeshotsav and Navratri festivals, anticipating large crowds on the city's streets. The directive aims to prevent commercial advertisements or hoardings from obstructing pedestrians or traffic, aligning with the 'Pedestrian First' campaign to enhance pedestrian accessibility and safety.

BMC chief Ashwini Bhide has appealed to citizens, festival mandals, and advertisers to ensure that festivities don't impede pedestrian movement. Advertisers are prohibited from promoting gutkha, tobacco, or other restricted products. Allowed are vertical advertisements on traditional entrance gates, with an optional "Heartfelt Welcome to Devotees" message on the horizontal section.

Mandals are encouraged to utilize advertising spaces for social and civic-awareness messages. Digital screens, up to 10 ft by 10 ft, can display public-interest, health-related, or commercial messages after obtaining No Objection Certificates from the Traffic Department and local police stations. The rule mandates mandals to remove their advertising boards within 24 hours of the immersion ceremony.

Two Mumbai police constables have been suspended for allegedly aiding illegal gutkha transportation via railway trains. The civic administration emphasizes that advertising must be disciplined, not compromise the religious and social essence of festivals, and should not obstruct pedestrians. For those interested in property deals in Mumbai, further inquiries can be made at https://budgetproperties.in/.