MNS demands removal of unsafe hoardings near Inorbit Mall Vashi in Navi Mumbai
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Sunday demanded the immediate removal or reinforcement of unsafe and illegally installed hoardings near Inorbit Mall Vashi on the Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai. The political party warned that the precarious structures pose a severe threat to public safety and could trigger a major accident ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.
In a statement issued on Sunday, MNS spokesperson and Navi Mumbai city president Gajanan Kale alleged that the hoardings are located within the railway jurisdiction near the Vashi Bridge. According to Kale, the massive billboards were erected in violation of prescribed safety norms and are currently in a highly unstable condition.
The MNS drew direct parallels between the current situation in Navi Mumbai and the tragic hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, on May 13, 2024. In that incident, a massive billboard collapsed during a dust storm, killing 17 people and injuring more than 70 others.
Kale stated that the Ghatkopar disaster should have prompted stricter enforcement by civic and government agencies. However, he claimed that local authorities have failed to learn from the tragedy, leaving dangerous structures standing.
The party also highlighted a pattern of negligence by local civic departments, pointing to recent fatal incidents in Navi Mumbai, including electrocution cases. The MNS warned that another preventable tragedy could occur if the hazardous billboards are not addressed immediately.
To prevent any loss of life, Kale has called upon the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), and the railway authorities to conduct urgent inspections. He demanded that the hoardings either be removed immediately or have their structural integrity brought into compliance with safety regulations.
MNS local division president Sagar Vichare added that the party is prepared to provide further details regarding the unsafe structures. Vichare appealed to the civic and railway authorities to take swift action before the onset of the monsoon poses additional risks to commuters and residents.
