Pune Authorities Crack Down: April 8 Deadline Looms for Hoarding Compliance

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has issued a firm ultimatum to hoarding owners and companies, setting April 8 as the deadline to submit regularization proposals for unauthorized billboards. Failure to comply will trigger a swift removal of illegal structures, according to officials. The decision emerged from a meeting held on March 3 at PMRDA’s Akurdi office, led by Joint Commissioner Dr. Dipti Suryavanshi-Patil, with key officials and hoarding association representatives present.

Last year, a PMRDA survey uncovered 1,000 illegal hoardings erected without proper permits, with 24 demolished by December 2024. The agency is now intensifying efforts amid growing safety concerns, particularly after unpredictable weather and strong winds highlighted the risks posed by unstable structures. The PMRDA has mandated the immediate removal of hazardous hoardings near high-traffic zones within two days, warning that non-compliance will result in strict penalties and liability for any resulting accidents.

The crackdown targets accident-prone areas and major roads, including Pune-Satara Road, Paud Road, Hadapsar Dive Ghat, Pune-Solapur Road, Pune-Nashik Road, Pune-Nagar Road, Sus Road (Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur stretch), and busy locales like Hinjewadi, Wagholi, Manjari, and Narhe. Dr. Suryavanshi-Patil emphasized the urgency, stating to Hindustan Times, “Hoarding owners must submit permission lists by April 8, or all structures will be deemed illegal and dismantled. New installations without approval are banned, and violators will face immediate action.” She added that stacking multiple hoardings on a single frame is also prohibited.

ALSO READ : Hoarding at Mulund toll plaza illegal, admits Minister

This move underscores PMRDA’s push to enhance public safety and regulate urban clutter, with the clock ticking for stakeholders to meet the fast-approaching deadline.