An old Fevicol hoarding in Bandra West was taken down on Saturday after Western Railway raised objections over its portrayal of Mumbai’s local trains. Calling it a “derogatory misrepresentation”, railway officials slammed the hoarding, managed by MSRDC, for using outdated imagery that undermines the railways’ modernisation efforts.
BMC eyes stricter hoarding rules
Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, emphasised that Mumbai’s rail network has undergone significant modernisation, and the use of outdated imagery gives a distorted view of current realities. In a formal complaint, the railway demanded that the hoarding be taken down immediately and requested a public apology from Fevicol’s parent company, Pidilite Industries.
In response, Fevicol removed the hoarding on Saturday. Western Railway highlighted the substantial upgrades to the Mumbai suburban system, including AC trains, modern rakes, and enhanced infrastructure, which now serve over 70 lakh commuters daily.
Meanwhile, the BMC is reviewing its outdoor advertising policy following citizen suggestions. It’s considering allowing hoardings on building walls but will likely retain the current 100m gap between ads to avoid visual clutter and ensure safety, especially after the recent Ghatkopar billboard tragedy prompted a policy review.
