The festive season has once again turned into a nightmare for motorists on the Western Express Highway (WEH) as oversized political hoardings and banners put up for Dussehra have created hazardous conditions, leading to a series of minor mishaps and near-misses.
Over the past few days, commuters travelling along the WEH have complained of giant cut-outs, flex banners, and cloth hoardings tied across poles and dividers, obstructing visibility. Some of these banners, loosely fastened with ropes and wires, have reportedly dangled dangerously low, brushing against moving vehicles. In multiple instances, bikers have been struck on the head and face.
Motorist Tanmay Chavan, travelling from Bandra to Andheri, said, “Late on Wednesday evening, a large hoarding tied to a street lamp and a bamboo suddenly came loose. The biker ahead of me braked suddenly, and I narrowly avoided hitting it. Such reckless display of banners is a direct threat to our lives.”
Another motorist, Ashutosh Revale, said, “A hoarding on the stretch between Bandra and Khar struck me on the forehead two days ago. It had been put up in such a way that its bamboo frame extended beyond the yellow safety line. I was at fault, too, as I wasn`t wearing a helmet at the time.” Traffic police officials also confirmed that they have witnessed several such incidents since the Dussehra banners were put up three to four days ago.
“On Wednesday night, I helped at least seven to eight bike riders who had crashed into each other after the first one bumped into the hoarding near Santacruz. He had slammed the emergency brakes, and the rest followed suit. During evening peak hours, bikers just have a small gap on the left side of the road in which they zip through traffic. Banners are always put up there, as that`s where streetlight poles are. Dealing with this situation only adds to our workload,” said Sitaram Gawande, a traffic police officer deployed along the WEH.
Political angle
Citizens’ groups have lashed out at civic authorities for turning a blind eye to such blatant violations. Activists have pointed out that despite a Bombay High Court order banning illegal hoardings, the menace resurfaces every festive season. “The BMC [Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation] needs to take immediate and strict action. The political clout of organisers cannot be used to compromise road safety,” said Juliana D`Souza, an activist from Kandivli.
Commuters have also expressed frustration over the lack of preventive measures. While officials routinely clear banners in the wake of complaints from citizens, fresh ones often crop up within hours. Many allege that both the civic body and police hesitate to act strictly against political outfits, fearing backlash. “Why should the rules be different for politicians? The banners that have caused so much trouble are, in fact, those of our deputy chief minister, someone who is supposedly a lawmaker,” said D’Souza.
