Month after announcing crackdown, PMC action against hoardings without QR codes remains on paper

Pune: A month after announcing a crackdown on hoardings lacking QR codes, the PMC is moving slowly on demolishing these structures and filing complaints against those responsible for installing them. As per civic officials, no such offence has been filed in the last one month.Activists have now demanded that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) form a special squad to remove these illegal hoardings, warning that they could cause a mishap during the upcoming monsoon season as they are unverified in nature.“Such hoardings are life-threatening. There is no guarantee about their safety as the structural audits are not carried out. The civic administration must take serious legal action,” said Sanjay Shitole of Pune City Eye, a citizens’ group.“Mishaps have been caused by such hoardings in the past and commuters have died when they collapsed. Despite this, many illegal hoardings are still seen along roads, especially near highways,” said Shantanu Gosavi, a resident of Paud Road.In April this year, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had made an announcement to reinforce mandatory QR codes for legal hoardings. Upon scanning this code via one’s mobile phone, citizens would be able to access the permit number, validity period of the permit, the owner’s name, renewal status and relevant documentation.As per the orders, advertising agencies must ensure these QR codes are placed in the designated spots. Any hoarding found without a QR code, or one where scanning fails to display information, will be deemed illegal. The hoardings policy of PMC made the provision of QR codes in 2022, said civic officials.Sandip Kadam, head of PMC’s sky sign department, said, “After orders were issued, the majority of advertisers have added QR codes to hoardings. We have instructed ward offices to survey hoardings in their jurisdiction without these codes. Action against them will start in a day or two.”According to civic data, there are 2,640 official hoardings within PMC limits. Such advertising material is termed illegal if installed without permission, irrespective of structural audit. Renewal of licence is possible only after such an audit, which is routinely avoided by many advertisers.