India, Oct. 7 -- Residents' forums have come out in severe criticism of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for its alleged inaction against rampant politically and religiously motivated hoardings and banners across the city. According to residents, while the PMC claims to be cracking down on illegal billboards, its response is selective especially when it comes to politically backed and religious advertisements. These hoardings and banners, many of them installed at key traffic junctions, are not only an eyesore but also a safety hazard, residents allege.

Sunil Aiyer, director, Mohammadwadi-Undri Residents Welfare Foundation, said, "In a scenario where the size of roads has not changed whilst the traffic has increased threefold, it's r...