Mumbai's Civic Body Overhauls Advertisement Regulations After 17-Year Gap
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has ushered in a new era of outdoor advertising regulation with freshly minted rules governing the installation and maintenance of hoardings across India's financial capital. This landmark policy shift comes as a direct response to the tragic Ghatkopar hoarding collapse in May 2024 that claimed 17 lives and left 75 individuals injured.
Announced on Thursday, November 27, 2025, these regulations represent the first comprehensive update to the city's hoarding guidelines since 2008, ending a 17-year period without significant policy revision. The previous guidelines, established in 2008, had mandated a review every decade but missed their 2018 deadline, with implementation delays attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catalyst for Change: The Ghatkopar Tragedy
The devastating incident that prompted this regulatory overhaul occurred when a massive billboard succumbed to heavy winds during adverse weather conditions. A structural investigation following the catastrophe revealed critical safety failures that exposed the inadequacy of existing regulations.
In the aftermath, the BMC initiated the drafting of a new hoarding policy, circulating an initial version for public feedback in 2024. The civic body actively solicited suggestions and objections from citizens and stakeholders, conducting multiple hearings before finalizing the rules that were formally published this week.
Key Provisions of the New Hoarding Policy
The updated regulations introduce several groundbreaking measures aimed at preventing similar tragedies:
Structural Safety Mandates: For the first time, the policy requires regular structural audits of all hoardings in Mumbai, ensuring ongoing monitoring of their integrity. The rules also establish a maximum size limitation of 40 feet by 40 feet for all billboards.
Location Restrictions: The new policy explicitly prohibits billboards on footpaths and rooftops - spaces that had become commonly used for advertising installations under previous regulations.
Digital Signage Controls: While encouraging the transition to digital boards, the BMC has implemented strict luminance ratios. LED signages must now maintain a maximum brightness ratio of 3:1 compared to their surroundings, a significant reduction from the previous average of 4:1 to 6:1. This measure aims to prevent driver distraction and improve road safety.
Enhanced Permission Process: Stakeholders must now obtain approvals from both the BMC and Mumbai Traffic Police, with additional No Objection Certificates required for digital boards and installations near high-tension wires.
Accountability and Enforcement Mechanisms
The new framework introduces stringent consequences for violations, including a blacklisting policy that can temporarily or permanently revoke licenses of non-compliant stakeholders. The grace period for removing billboards after license expiration has been halved from six months to three months.
Perhaps most significantly, the policy now mandates that advertisers maintain accidental insurance coverage ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore, depending on potential damage scenarios, providing financial protection for affected parties.
The BMC has also committed to greater transparency in allocating advertising spaces, implementing a tendering process for leasing municipal properties for advertisement purposes.
Economic Impact and Future Outlook
Currently, Mumbai hosts 1,025 licensed hoardings that generate approximately ₹100 crore in annual revenue for the municipal corporation. The new regulations aim to balance economic interests with public safety concerns, potentially reshaping the city's visual landscape while protecting its citizens.
The introduction of varied hoarding shapes - including V-shaped, L-shaped, triangular, square, pentagonal, and hexagonal structures - represents a modernization of the city's advertising infrastructure, though these too will require traffic police NOCs before installation.
As Mumbai implements these comprehensive safety measures, the policy stands as a testament to the city's commitment to learning from tragedy and building a safer urban environment for all residents and visitors.
