GHMC wakes up after Chennai techie's death: Launches special drive against illegal banners

Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has started a special drive against unauthorised banners and hoardings in the city. This action comes after a 23-year-old techie in Chennai was crushed to death by a water tanker following an illegal banner fell on her. Yesterday, on social media, several netizens had criticised the inaction of the corporation on a large number of hoardings and banners in Hyderabad city too.

"From Saturday morning, GHMC has started removing all the illegal hoardings and banners in the city. The 18,000 sanitation workers are assigned with this duty," said GHMC spokesperson.

Despite the ban of flex banners within GHMC limits, several of them were continuing to dot in different parts of the city, posing a threat to passing cars and pedestrians. Regardless of the High Court's directions and Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister, K.T. Rama Rao's instructions, the Defacement Act has been completely ignored.

However, in the wake of recent public outrage, Musharraf Ali Faruqui, Additional Commissioner, GHMC tweeted "GHMC has always been tough and will not allow any unauthorized banner, flex or display. Public safety is our priority".

@GHMCOnline has always been tough and will not allow any unauthorised banner/flexi/display

Public safety is our priority https://t.co/wuriFPqLTe

— Musharraf Ali Faruqui (@musharraf_ias) September 13, 2019

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad police have started taking action against digital display advertisement boards atop cars and cabs. These awful mobile billboards which illuminate bright flashing lights are a new distraction to other drivers on the road.

These digital display boards use multiple colour LED lights. People driving a bike or a car is getting distracted because of this," said Krishnasatry, a motorist.