Pimpri-Chinchwad: Hoarding Owner Issues Warning Notice
Pimpri-Chinchwad: Hoarding Owner Issues Warning Notice
A large billboard at Khandoba Mal Chowk near the Akurdi signal, approved by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), has sparked public safety concerns. The billboard, along with others on the same structure, has been deemed precarious. The owner has posted a warning, advising people not to stand beneath it and stating they are not responsible for injuries or deaths if it collapses.
This warning has led residents to question whether the responsibility lies with the owner or the municipal corporation. Authorities have not yet clarified who would be liable in such an event.
The municipal corporation’s sky signs and licensing department approved three to four billboards at this location, including the one above the signal. Despite efforts to ensure structural stability, similar billboards have caused accidents in the past, leading to loss of lives and property. The municipal corporation is now taking stricter measures to prevent such incidents.
The billboard owner, with permission from the municipal corporation, has put up notices warning people to avoid the area beneath the structure, especially during bad weather. However, citizens remain worried about the risks these billboards pose.
Even though these warnings are in place, the municipal corporation continues to approve billboards on potentially dangerous structures. This situation highlights the shared responsibility between the municipal authorities and billboard owners for any accidents that may occur.
PCMC officials emphasize that billboard owners must ensure their structures are safe and stable, especially during the rainy season when storms and winds can weaken them. If a billboard collapses, the owner is financially responsible. The PCMC will begin removing unauthorized billboards starting Monday, focusing on those that obstruct traffic signals.
“All hoardings lacking structural audits will be considered unauthorized. Notices will be issued before immediate removal,” said Chandrakant Indalkar, joint commissioner of PCMC.
