Thane’s advertising hoardings have come under scrutiny after Congress alleged that around 90% of the city’s display boards violate Maharashtra’s prescribed height and size limits. The party has demanded action against unauthorised hoardings and warned of a hunger strike if the Thane Municipal Corporation does not act within a month.
The issue emerged after the municipal administration responded to information sought by Marzia Pathan, a Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) councillor. According to the response from the civic body’s deputy commissioner for advertising, Jitendra Nikam, the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (Erection of Sky-signs and Advertisement Displays) Regulation and Control Rules, 2022 allow advertising hoardings up to 40 feet by 30 feet.
The rules also prescribe that a hoarding’s maximum height should not exceed 40 feet from the level of the road concerned. Hoardings larger or taller than these limits are not permitted under the provisions cited in the municipal response.
Vikrant Chavan, a former Congress city president, referred to the civic administration’s response while alleging that approximately 90% of the advertising boards in Thane breach the applicable rules. He alleged that several hoardings in the city exceed the 40-foot height limit and that many are substantially larger than the permitted 40-by-30-foot dimensions.
The report did not identify the individual hoardings covered by the allegation or provide a ward-wise assessment of the city’s advertising structures. It also did not include a separate statement from advertising companies or details of enforcement notices already issued by the municipal corporation.
The dispute places the city’s outdoor advertising permissions under renewed focus. Any enforcement action would affect advertisers and advertising companies operating hoardings within the Thane Municipal Corporation area, although the available information does not specify the number of structures that may be subject to removal, modification or fresh scrutiny.
Congress has demanded that the civic administration act against hoardings that do not meet the state rules. Chavan has warned that the party will begin a hunger strike if action is not taken within one month. The municipal corporation’s next enforcement steps and any official verification of the alleged violations remain awaited.
