In response to the May 13th Mumbai hoarding collapse tragedy, the India Outdoor Advertising Association (IOAA) and its members have expressed their sorrow over the incident and stated that they supported all government and BMC initiatives to conduct structural audits of all the hoardings in the city.
Pawan Bansal, President, IOAA, has issued a statement that reads, “This event has deeply affected us, and our thoughts are with the families enduring this painful time.”
“The IOAA has consistently advocated for strict adherence to local regulations and safety standards concerning the installation of hoardings. We prioritise safety and diligently promote compliance among our members.”
“In response to this incident, the IOAA fully supports the initiatives undertaken by the Maharashtra Government and the BMC to audit and regulate hoarding structures throughout the city. We are committed to assisting in these efforts to ensure such a tragedy does not occur again.”
“We are determined to work closely with all relevant authorities to enhance safety measures and regulatory compliance. We appreciate the ongoing support and understanding of the community as we strive to make necessary improvements.”
The incident has sparked a nationwide debate on the risks of illegal hoardings that have mushroomed nationwide.
Some days ago, the BMC asked railway authorities to remove 45 billboards that exceed the approved size.
The municipal body asked the authorities to conduct a structural audit of 205 hoardings put up on land owned by the Central and Western Railways.
BMC has also started taking action against other illegal billboards in the city in the wake of last week's crash.
As per reports, the civic body had found that the company which put up the said billboard had not paid the licence fee and did not have all the required approvals. However, no action had been taken.
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