Remove highway hoardings: NHAI

June 1, 2008

PANAJI: All hoardings erected along the national highways of Goa must be removed by June 5, 2008, according to an order issued by the National Highways Authority of India on Friday.

The NHAI officials told TOI that the order was issued directing that all hoardings must be removed within five days of publication of the order, failing which NHAI would itself remove the hoardings.

In its drive against these hoardings, the NHAI had earlier counted 245 major hoardings and about 700 smaller hoardings erected on land acquired for the national highways in Goa. While some have been removed since, many are still there.

On February 12, 2008, the High Court of Bombay in Goa had directed the state authorities to remove all illegal hoardings in the state within four months and file a report to the court.

The court also asked both the district collectors to submit their progress report latest by July 21, 2008.

These directions are to be complied with by the collectors of North and South Goa, directorate of panchayats, director of municipal administration and the highway administration.

This order of the High Court assumes significance in view of mushrooming illegal billboards in Goa, particularly along the national highways. Following a news report in a local daily, the court had taken suo
moto cognizance and issued a notice to the state authorities.

The court had observed that billboards are being erected without obtaining NoCs from local authorities and in violation of the 40-metre setback rule set out by the Indian Road Congress and without the permission of the Traffic Cell.

The court observed that local authorities must exercise proper control over billboard erection and order their removal wherever rules are flouted. The court noted that the hoardings are a hazard to road safety and mar the natural beauty of the state.

The court also held that the local authorities have failed to exercise statutory control over the erection of billboards within their respective jurisdictions, thereby encouraging illegal hoardings.
Source: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Expressway, Highway, NHAI