Pune: PMC Orders Comprehensive Inspection of Billboards
Pune, 24th April 2024: Every year, Pune City experiences pre-monsoon rains accompanied by powerful winds in May. These rains often result in the falling of numerous trees and hoardings, posing risks to life and causing financial losses.
In response to this recurring issue, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has directed the commissioners of its five zones, along with the PMC commissioner, to inspect all billboards in the city within 15 days and submit a comprehensive report. This decision comes after a recent incident where a large advertisement board collapsed onto a four-wheeler in Wagholi during unseasonal rain, prompting urgent action from the administration.
In recent years, incidents of falling trees and advertising boards during the monsoon season have been on the rise in the city. Last year, some individuals lost their lives when an advertisement board fell on Dehu Road. As a preventive measure, the PMC now mandates a structural audit of billboards by an authorized organization determined by the PMC before issuing billboard renewal licenses annually. Owners of billboards are required to conduct these audits and submit the reports to the PMC.
Furthermore, to ensure the safety of billboards even after the audit, engineers from the Sky Sign And License Department have been instructed to physically inspect the condition of billboards at their locations and provide their assessment within 15 days.
Additionally, the pruning of branches from hazardous trees within PMC limits, as well as the removal of dangerous trees, has been mandated before May 15. Last year witnessed a higher number of tree falls in the city, necessitating measures to address this issue. Orders have been issued to identify and remove hazardous trees after conducting surveys and obtaining the necessary approvals.
