COIMBATORE: With not even a full week passing since the Saibaba Colony flyover was opened to traffic, illegal advertisement hoardings have already sprung up atop buildings along the Mettupalayam Road stretch, exposing the negligence of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) and District Road Safety Committee.
The unauthorised hoardings, erected in clear view of motorists using the flyover, have triggered criticism from social activists and commuters, who accused the civic body and road safety committee of turning a blind eye to blatant violations. With the Kavundampalayam flyover already plagued by illegal hoardings, commuters fear the Saibaba Colony flyover is fast heading in the same direction.
K Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause and a member of the District Road Safety Committee, said the authorities had failed to prevent an issue that was both predictable and avoidable.
"Earlier, permissions for advertisement hoardings were issued by the district collector, who is also the head of the District Road Safety Committee. At that time, illegal hoardings were largely kept under check. However, after the powers were transferred to the local bodies, unauthorised hoardings have multiplied across the city. The power to regulate advertisement boards should be handed back to the district collector," he told TNIE.
He alleged that these illegal hoardings also violated the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) norms. "The guidelines clearly state that hoardings should be installed parallel to the road and not face motorists. There are no pedestrians on the flyover, so these hoardings are meant only to catch the attention of drivers. Such distractions on the bridges are dangerous and should have been removed the moment they appeared," he said.
Motorists questioned how the illegal structures could come up so quickly without the knowledge of the authorities.
"It is shocking that within days of inaugurating a major flyover, illegal hoardings have already occupied the skyline. Are the authorities really working or sleeping in their AC rooms," asked S Madhumitha, a regular commuter.
"The CCMC is quick to claim credit for infrastructure projects, but when it comes to enforcing basic safety rules, there seems to be little urgency. If such blatant violations are ignored now, the flyover will soon become another advertising corridor. Officials must take stringent action against such violations," she added.
Road safety activists said the silence of the CCMC and District Road Safety Committee has emboldened violators. They demanded immediate removal of the illegal hoardings, action against the building owners concerned and stricter enforcement to ensure that public infrastructure is not compromised by commercial interests at the cost of motorists' safety.
When inquired about it, a senior official from the town planning wing of the CCMC said that the officials will inspect the spot and take necessary action soon.
Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said, "I shall instruct the concerned officials to visit the spot and take necessary action immediately. The illegal hoardings installed alongside the Kavundampalayam flyover on Mettupalayam Road will also be taken down. Recently, we have completed GIS tagging for all approved advertisements across the city. Any illegal hoardings installed by building owners will be removed at the earliest."