Omkar Deshpande

Update 4 : BMC has given a detailed update on the Ghatkopar Billboard collapse in Mumbai which has killed 4 and injured 65 so far: 🚨 According to BMC, the billboard's permission was issued by the ACP (Admin), Railway commissioner, Railway police, and no permission was given by the BMC for this. This is the same agency against which an FIR was recently filed for poisoning trees on the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) to improve the visibility of its hoarding. The N ward assitant commissioner of BMC has issued a letter today, requesting the removal of all hoardings due to a lack of permissions. More detailed update here: Billboard was erected on land that is in possession of the Police Housing Welfare Corporation of the Maharashtra government. Four hoardings were erected by M/S Ego Media, registered at Mulund West. Permission for the hoarding was issued by the ACP (Admin) for the Commissioner of Police, GRP. No Permission/NOC from the BMC was obtained by the agencies. This is apparently the same agency that had poisoned trees on the EEH that were obstructing the view of the hoardings. The BMC had filed an FIR against the agency. The BMC had issued a notice to the ACP (Admin) of Railway Commissioner, GRP, on May 2, 2024, to remove the hoardings. BMC has stated that it only allows 40x40 sq.ft. hoardings. The hoarding that collapsed today was 120x120. The Assistant Commissioner of the N ward of BMC has now issued a notice to the agency (today) to remove all hoardings immediately for a lack of BMC permissions.