Deadline for Ghatkopar Hoarding Tragedy Report Extended Till March
The Maharashtra government has granted an extension to the panel investigating the tragic Ghatkopar hoarding collapse, which claimed 17 lives and left over 70 injured. The inquiry, headed by retired High Court Chief Justice Dilip Bhosale, now has until March 31 to submit its final report. The incident, which took place in June last year, has sparked widespread concern regarding safety regulations around large advertisements and structures in urban areas.
The four-member panel was formed shortly after the incident, with the goal of identifying the causes behind the collapse and determining the roles of various stakeholders involved. In a recent update, the state government issued an order revising the committee’s structure and appointing additional members to assist in the probe. Notably, a member from the Income Tax Department was dropped due to the unavailability of the officer, and a replacement from the chartered accountant category was introduced. Advocate US Gandhi now replaces Kirtane and Pandit LLP Mumbai as the firm involved in the investigation. In terms of its remit, the committee is tasked with investigating the roles of entities responsible for the hoarding and the petrol pump where the hoarding was erected. One of the critical areas of focus is the scrutiny of records concerning the permission granted for the hoarding’s installation, including any financial transactions and potential collusion with public officials.
Furthermore, the committee will assess the current processes surrounding the approval and installation of hoardings on government and railway properties. Recommendations are expected to be made to improve regulatory frameworks and ensure that such incidents are prevented in the future. The Ghatkopar tragedy has exposed significant gaps in urban safety regulations, with calls for stricter oversight over structures like hoardings that pose a hazard to public safety. As the inquiry progresses, the findings will likely influence changes in policy and safety standards across the city and beyond.
