Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde oversees removal of illegal banners on Sion flyover

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has stepped up the campaign to free the city of illegal banners, posters and flex boards. On Thursday evening she once again went to the spot herself and supervised the removal. She said she does not stop at issuing instructions but gets action carried out on the ground.

Tawde was returning from an official visit when she saw illegal banners, posters and advertisement boards on the newly built railway flyover at Sion. The boards were covering traffic signals and direction signboards, causing difficulty for motorists.

The Mayor had her vehicle stopped and immediately summoned the officials and staff concerned. The removal work continued, and Tawde remained present on the flyover and in the surrounding area.

She directed officials to make no distinction between political parties and commercial establishments. All banners and advertisement boards on the flyover railings and nearby were to be removed. She stayed there until all the illegal banners on the flyover and the adjoining area had been completely taken down. Officials and staff of the licence, maintenance and anti-encroachment departments were present during the action.

Tawde warned that defacing newly built public structures and flyovers would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

She also told the municipal administration not to limit the campaign to a few places. The removal of illegal banners and advertisement boards should be expanded and stepped up across Mumbai. If negligence or delay in carrying out the drive is found, strict action will be taken against the officials and staff concerned. According to the Mayor, her continuous follow-up and direct intervention have speeded up the administration's action. She appealed to everyone to rise above political affiliation or commercial interest, cooperate with the campaign and help make Mumbai free of illegal banners and posters.

Meanwhile, the licence department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) removed 12,396 banners, boards, posters, flags and other advertisements in a five-week drive from October 8 to November 12, 2026. According to the department's report, 15 FIRs or prosecution complaints were filed against those responsible. The report records 22 days of action during this period.

Banners formed the largest number, at 7,640 removed. Of these, 4,540 were religious or social, 1,959 political and 1,141 commercial. A total of 3,869 boards were removed, of which 1,958 were religious or social, 1,506 political and 405 commercial. Of the 657 posters removed, 510 were religious or social, 126 political and 21 commercial. The department also removed 219 flags and registered 11 cases of defacing walls.