NGO Complains to CM of Illegal Hoardings That Raise Safety Concerns

Chennai:Towering hoardings, some allegedly rising up to 100 feet, against the prescribed limit of 33 feet, have raised fresh concerns over public safety in Chennai.

On Friday, anti-corruption organisation Arappor Iyakkam flagged 23 structures in the city for alleged violations of advertising regulations and called for their immediate removal.

Arappor Iyakkam has identified the structures across several key stretches, including Anna Salai, TTK Road, Poonamallee High Road, Guindy and Taramani, alleging that some extend over roads and pavements, obstruct pedestrian movement and violate restrictions on height, dimensions and location.

In a complaint to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and government officials, including Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner, Dr. G.S. Sameeran, Arappor Iyakkam said it had physically inspected and photographed all 23 hoardings and documented their locations.

Among the prominent violations was a hoarding near Apollo Cancer Hospital, allegedly measuring around 82 feet in height. Another near MGM Hospital in Adyar was accused of blocking the hospital’s emergency sign. A cluster of hoardings near Gemini Flyover was also found to allegedly exceed permissible height and size limits.

The complaint further flagged a hoarding on the fourth floor terrace of a building on Anna Salai in Saidapet, in violation of regulations prohibiting installations above the second floor.

Another structure near a petrol filling station on Anna Salai was allegedly around 80 feet tall and larger than its licensed dimensions.

Arappor Iyakkam said the violations pointed to serious lapses in enforcement, questioning how such massive structures could have been erected and allowed to remain without the knowledge of civic officials responsible for licensing and inspections.

It questioned the failure of officials to conduct periodic inspections mandated under Rule 337 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, and raised concerns over possible collusion between civic officials and hoarding agencies.

Arappor Iyakkam has demanded cancellation of licences issued in violation of the rules and an inquiry into the role of officials who approved or allowed the violations to continue.

There are various studies that have found that hoardings were dangerous in Chennai, a coastal city prone to cyclones, and washed by salty wind that corrodes metal.

In May last year, GCC had introduced an online system to issue licence for erecting hoardings, suspending the existing offline procedure, to ensure greater transparency in the process.

The Corporation had stated that a penalty of Rs. 25,000 would be imposed for unauthorised advertisement boards and repeat violations would attract fines of up to Rs. 1 lakh. In addition to the penalty, the cost incurred for removing illegal hoardings will be recovered from those installing them.

Arappor Iyakkam has called for a city-wide structural safety audit of hoardings and publication of licensing details to enable public scrutiny.