A hoarding frame atop a building along the Kavundampalayam flyover in Coimbatore city.

| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Coimbatore Corporation has stepped up efforts to remove illegal advertisement hoardings across the city following criticism over ineffective enforcement. The civic body has begun a crackdown on unauthorised structures that pose safety risks.

Many of these hoardings have been erected along flyovers, at traffic junctions, and within the right of way of highways, creating distractions for motorists and potentially leading to road accidents. Recently, the Tamil Nadu Highways Department recently instructed all District Collectors to remove advertisement boards placed within the highway rights of way.

The Corporation has dismantled 23 hoardings over three days till Friday, targeting structures installed on rooftops and building facades. These included nine in the Central Zone, five in the West Zone, four in the South Zone, three in the East Zone, and two in the North Zone.

Corporation Town Planning Officer S. Kumar said that officials were verifying the legality of all hoardings. Those lacking proper approval are being taken down, with frames confiscated. He added that going forward, advertisement boards must display the permission number, allowed size, and expiry date. Non-compliance within a week will result in removal. “We do not have the total number of hoardings yet, as the survey has just begun,” he said.

The Corporation has decided to auction the confiscated iron frames, which weigh a total of 9,985 kg. Plans are also under way to take legal action against the agencies responsible for erecting unauthorised hoardings.