In an unspeakable tragedy that has rocked the city of Mumbai, a towering and illegal hoarding became an instrument of death and destruction amidst a ferocious dust storm and unseasonal rains that battered the city on a fateful Monday. The incident, which took place at a petrol station in the bustling suburb of Ghatkopar in eastern Mumbai, resulted in the loss of at least 14 precious lives and injuries to 74 others.
The hoarding, which stood at an intimidating height of 100 feet, was not just another urban structure, but an illegal installation on Government Railway Police (GRP) land at Chheda Nagar. The aftermath of its fall has prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take immediate action, ordering the removal of any remaining hoardings that occupy GRP land, in a bid to prevent any further calamities.
Scrutiny has rapidly focused on Ego Media, the advertising agency and hoarding company responsible for erecting the billboards, and specifically its owner, Bhavesh Bhinde. In a decisive move, the BMC has served a notice to the company in connection with the collapsed structure.
The background of Bhinde is marred with controversy and legal entanglements. With over 20 police cases to his name, including a serious allegation of rape, Bhinde is currently evading law enforcement and has been unreachable, as per reports from police officials.
Bhinde’s endeavor into politics in 2009 as an independent candidate in the state election from the Mulund constituency had brought to light his affidavit, which openly declared his involvement in 23 cases under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and the Negotiable Instruments Act, mainly concerning bounced checks.
The year 2020 brought more legal troubles for Bhinde as he was implicated in a rape case at the Mulund Police Station, with a chargesheet filed against him this past January. Despite this checkered history, Bhinde and Ego Media have managed to secure contracts for billboard installations from notable entities such as the Indian Railways and the BMC, even as his company’s actions, including instances of tree poisoning and tree-cutting, have continuously flouted their rules.
The disastrous hoarding that met its end this week at Ghatkopar not only caused numerous casualties, but its sheer size had also landed it in the Limca Book of Records. The BMC has clear regulations prohibiting billboards larger than 40 by 40 feet, a rule egregiously disregarded by the installation of this 120X120-foot hoarding.
BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani responded to the tragedy with a promise of stringent action, declaring, “We have ordered action against all illegal hoardings in the city. We are starting today. A case has been filed as no permission had been given for the hoarding. There was also a complaint that some trees had been cut so this hoarding could be visible. We have filed a case in this regard too.”
Despite claims from Bhinde’s company that they had the consent of the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Railways), BMC representatives have clarified that municipal corporation approval is additionally necessary for any hoarding located within an area under their jurisdiction.
In a notable gesture of sympathy and solidarity with the victims and their families, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that the government will cover the medical expenses for those injured. Moreover, he has assured a compensation of ₹ 5 lakh to the families of the deceased.
The calamitous billboard collapse in Mumbai has sparked a conversation about civic responsibility, legal adherence, and the safety of public spaces in a city that is no stranger to the pressures of urban chaos and infrastructural challenges. As the authorities scramble to mitigate future risks, the grief and shock of this recent tragedy remind us of the urgent need for vigilance and better governance in the face of modern India’s rapid urbanization.
