Mumbai’s banner-free drive intensified on Thursday after Mayor Ritu Tawde personally supervised the removal of unauthorised political and commercial banners, posters and advertising boards from a newly constructed railway flyover at Sion. The displays were obstructing traffic signals and directional signboards, according to a report by Mid-Day.
Tawde noticed the unauthorised displays while returning from an official visit and stopped her vehicle after reaching the flyover. She summoned civic officials and staff and remained at the site while the removal operation was carried out on the flyover and adjoining areas.
Officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Licensing, Maintenance and Encroachment Removal departments participated in the action. The civic teams removed banners and advertising boards from the flyover railings and surrounding areas, with directions to clear all unauthorised displays irrespective of their political or commercial affiliation.
The mayor said the defacement of newly constructed public infrastructure and flyovers would not be tolerated. She also instructed the civic administration to expand the enforcement drive across Mumbai rather than limiting action to individual locations. Tawde warned that strict action would be taken against officials and employees if negligence or delays were found in implementing the campaign.
The Sion operation comes as the BMC’s Licence Department reports the removal of 12,396 banners, boards, posters, flags and other displays during a five-week drive conducted between October 8 and November 12, 2026. The department recorded 22 days of action during the period and lodged 15 first information reports or prosecution complaints against those responsible, according to the report cited by Mid-Day.
Banners formed the largest category of removals, accounting for 7,640 displays. These included 4,540 religious or social banners, 1,959 political banners and 1,141 commercial banners. The civic body also removed 3,869 boards, comprising 1,958 religious or social boards, 1,506 political boards and 405 commercial boards.
Posters accounted for 657 removals, including 510 religious or social posters, 126 political posters and 21 commercial posters. The department also removed 219 flags and recorded 11 instances of wall defacement during the campaign.
The action highlights the enforcement challenge faced by the city in protecting public infrastructure from unauthorised displays. Flyovers, railings and road junctions are civic assets, but banners placed on them can also obstruct traffic signals and directional information used by motorists. The BMC’s stated expansion of the drive will determine whether the campaign remains focused on high-visibility locations or becomes a wider citywide enforcement exercise.
The civic administration is expected to continue the removal campaign across Mumbai, with officials facing action if the mayor’s directions on enforcement are not implemented promptly.
