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Inquiry Report on Ghatkopar Billboard Collapse Submitted, Calls for Stricter Hoarding Regulations

The Bhosale committee's report identifies regulatory failures, recommends a ban on video hoardings, and highlights challenges in tracing financial links to the accused.

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Mumbai, India - May 14, 2024: The NDRF and the fire brigade rescued injured people from underneath the collapsed billboard in the Cheda Nagar area of Ghatkopar, Mumbai, following heavy rain and strong winds. The incident resulted in the loss of fourteen lives and left 75 others injured. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo)
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Overview

  • The 650-page report, submitted to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, details lapses by officials in the GRP and BMC, contributing to the 2024 Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that killed 16 people.
  • The illegal 120×120-foot hoarding, erected on GRP land without BMC approval, violated size limits and had structural deficiencies, including an inadequate foundation.
  • The committee recommends banning video hoardings and revising approval processes to prevent future incidents of this nature.
  • Efforts to trace the financial trail of main accused Bhavesh Bhinde were hindered by non-cooperation from the Income Tax Department and chartered accountants.
  • Five arrests have been made, and IPS officer Quaiser Khalid was suspended for his role in granting permission for the illegal hoarding.