India, Aug. 29 -- The Ganeshotsav festivities have brought in a deluge of illegal hoardings all across the city, and with them, complaints from citizens affected by the visual noise and safety hazards posed.

"It would be a challenge to find any place in Mumbai without illegal banners," said Dr Aniruddha Malpani, who filed a PIL in the Bombay high court on the matter in 2023. Malpani flagged many recent cases of illegal hoardings put up in Colaba, outside Mantralaya. "Shameless politicians break the law with impunity and commit contempt of court because BMC officials refuse to do their job," he said.

Karan Shah, a citizen, pointed out the hoardings blocking footpaths on Warden Road, Walkeshwar and across the city, put up to welcome the h...