{
  "id": 15403288,
  "title": "BMC Removes Over 52,000 Illegal Banners, Posters From Across Mumbai Since January, Police File Four FIRs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/bmc-removes-over-52-000-illegal-banners-posters-from-across-mumbai",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T10:52:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/bmc-removes-over-52000-illegal-banners-posters-from-across-mumbai-since-january-police-file-four-firs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed over 52,000 illegal banners, posters and flex boards from public spaces since January, following a mayor-led crackdown on unauthorized advertisements. Between October 8 and October 16, authorities seized an additional 3,537 illegal displays citywide, bringing the total to 52,448. Mayor Ritu Tawde spearheaded the initiative, pledging to reclaim Mumbai's footpaths for pedestrians.\n\nThe drive intensified in the last week of October, with the BMC removing 2,291 displays in just six days. As part of the crackdown, four first information reports (FIRs) were filed with police stations after receiving complaints from the municipal corporation's licensing department. Separately, 333 additional complaints have been filed with the police to pursue further legal action against violators.\n\nThe BMC has directed officials to promptly remove unauthorized advertisements upon receiving citizen complaints. Furthermore, the civic body is contemplating a proposal to make QR codes mandatory on authorized advertisement banners, enabling easy verification of their validity and distinguishing them from unauthorized hoardings.",
  "summary": "The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said on Saturday that it removed 52,448 banners, flex boards and posters from different parts of Mumbai between January 1 and October 16 as part of a campaign against illegal advertisements in public places. From October 8 to October 16, the civic body carried out a special drive, as part of which it seized 3,537 illegal banners, posters and flags from…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}