Pumpwell Flyover gets Its FIRST Illegal Hoarding & It’s a Total Distraction to Motorists

Pumpwell Flyover gets Its FIRST Illegal Hoarding & It’s a Total Distraction to Motorists

Pumpwell Flyover gets Its FIRST Illegal Hoarding & It’s a Total Distraction to Motorists. Two hoardings of a Tulu Movie “Karnikoda Kallurti ” displayed on both sides of the Kankanady Pumpwell Flyover, where one is with best wishes from MLA Vedavyas Kamath, and the other from Karnataka Bank.

Mangaluru: Seems like there is a hoarding/billboard/banner epidemic in Mangaluru! At every nook and corner of the city, you will see illegal hoardings or banners advertising about school admissions, movies, opening of a showroom or shifting of a supermarket, concert or beach party announcements, conventions or public gathering announcements etc etc- and the funny part is that none of these have permission from the Mangaluru City Corporation to put them up. Then why is MCC not doing anything about this illegal practice, which is losing revenue due to these free advertising? People will find a suitable place to display their banners/hoardings, where their message is reached to the public. Since the display of the hoarding on the flyover is not under Corporation hands, therefore authorities of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should take immediate action, so that no accidents take place due to this hoarding distraction.

And here we have perfect example, where people have found a Attractive and Suitable place to advertise about their movie release- and that too on a flyover, which is a safety hazard, distracting the passing by motorists. Two wheeler riders were seen this morning parked their bikes/scooters right across from flyover/middle of the road and reading the contents on the hoarding. Even the drivers of other vehicles were seen starring at the hoarding, caring less to the safety of them and others. This is total traffic violation of the motorists, and total violation of the people displaying hoardings on a flyover, when display of hoardings are banned as per Supreme Court order.

The lethargy of the city corporation has resulted in the mushrooming of such flex hoardings and banners in the city. When the hoardings and banners speak of themselves who put them the corporation could easily fine them. But there is no will. As there is no fear of fine or any legal action people have continued to deface public places. Court orders, MCC advertising laws, strict directives and an exhaustive list of Dos and Don’ts notwithstanding, the menace of rickety and illegal hoardings continues to haunt Mangaloreans. Adding to the concern is the load of unlawful advertising boards, hoardings, flexes and uni-poles that continue to exist, despite MCC’s rules and regulations on outdoor advertising. Probably MCC has no count of illegal hoardings in the city and is doing nothing to stop it. Apart from the display of flex hoardings, MCC has not taken any action against businesses still using plastic bags for packing groceries or other items.

As per court ruling, these hoardings are “hazardous to traffic”. But the problem with MCC is that they will get into action for one day and remove all the illegal hoardings, and thereafter for a month or two months, they keep quiet. MCC needs to ban these illegal hoardings-areas are to be designated as “no-hoardings zones”. Strict action should be taken against those breaking the laws. All hoardings that compromise road safety are to be removed, and MCC should launch a drive to remove all illegal billboards immediately, and also warn about fines if hoardings are erected illegally. MCC should remove hoardings from city junctions as they are hazardous to traffic. In any case hoardings/flex banners, whether legal or illegal, should not be allowed to deface natural beauty, the city’s skyline, or cause safety hazards. No-hoarding zones are the need of the hour! Hoping that NHAI will look into this issue and will do the needful in taking down the hoardings on both sides of the Pumpwell flyover. Thank You!