MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has put a significant obstacle in the path of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s plan to install hoardings along Mumbai’s coastal road.
During a meeting held on July 5, 2024, the MCZMA deferred the proposal due to non-compliance with regulatory documentation, impacting the planned installation of advertising boards at key coastal locations. The BMC had proposed the erection of four double-sided hoardings at Tata Garden in Breach Candy and Lala Lajpat Rai Park near Haji Ali. The initiative aimed to generate revenue by utilising these prominent open spaces for advertisements.
However, the MCZMA’s deferral requires the BMC to resubmit the necessary documentation to comply with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines. The MCZMA’s decision was influenced by the absence of critical documents, including a 1:4000 scale Coastal Regulation Zone map and a report from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, as stipulated in the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan, 2019. Without these documents, the BMC’s proposal could not proceed. The BMC’s license department had envisioned this project as a revenue-generating opportunity, similar to practices adopted by various local and state agencies.
The contract for Tata Garden hoardings was awarded to Bizlist Advertising LLP following approval from the then Municipal Commissioner, I.S. Chahal, on April 21, 2023. Local opposition to the plan has been considerable. Residents and activist groups in South Mumbai have mobilised, collecting nearly 5,000 signatures against the project. Concerns centre around the potential commercialisation of reclaimed lands and safety risks, particularly given the increased cyclonic activity in the region. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader has also voiced objections, urging the BMC to halt the proposal due to the potential dangers posed by hoardings during adverse weather conditions.
According to existing CRZ notifications and Supreme Court rulings, commercial activities, including advertising hoardings, are restricted on reclaimed coastal lands. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation had faced similar issues with a planned hoarding project at Bandra Promenade, which was subsequently halted.
