The Kochi Municipal Corporation has launched a comprehensive inspection drive to identify unauthorized advertisement boards and illegal hoardings across the city. The initiative aims to improve road safety, urban aesthetics, and compliance with municipal regulations.
Corporation officials said that unchecked installation of hoardings has led to visual clutter, traffic distractions, and safety hazards, particularly during monsoon seasons when structures become unstable.
Inspection teams have been deployed in all zones of the city to document the number, size, and placement of advertisement boards. Special attention is being given to areas near junctions, schools, hospitals, and heritage zones.
Authorities noted that many hoardings violate existing norms related to height, illumination, and structural safety. Notices will be issued to advertisers and property owners responsible for illegal installations, asking them to remove the structures within a specified timeframe.
Failure to comply may result in fines, removal by the corporation, and recovery of costs from violators. The corporation is also reviewing existing permits to ensure they remain valid.
Urban planners and residents have welcomed the move, stating that unregulated advertisements negatively affect the city’s appearance and pose risks to pedestrians and motorists.
Officials said the inspection drive would continue in phases and form part of a broader effort to enforce civic rules more strictly across Kochi.
News as reported
