The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has established a one-month deadline for various establishments in Mumbai to install signboards in Marathi. This announcement was made by Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi during a meeting of the BMC Law Committee, highlighting the need for compliance among hotels, corporate offices, shops, and other commercial entities.

Ghadi emphasised that despite clear guidelines from the Supreme Court regarding the display of Marathi signboards, many establishments continue to neglect these regulations. He stated that establishments, ranging from five-star hotels to corporate towers, must adhere to the mandate within the stipulated month.

He attributed the lack of focus on this issue in previous years to the absence of an elected body within the BMC. With the new directives, Ghadi instructed the BMC’s licensing department to issue notices to those failing to comply with the rules. He further warned that if establishments choose to ignore these regulations, they may face repercussions, alluding to a “Shiv Sena-style” response.

Concerns Raised by Committee Members

The necessity for enforcing the display of Marathi signboards was underscored during the meeting, primarily by Tajinder Singh Tiwana, a member of the Legal Committee and municipal corporator. Tiwana pointed out that several notable hotels and commercial buildings—such as The Westin and Morgan Stanley—currently display their names only in English, failing to accommodate the local language.

Diksha Karkar, chairperson of the Law Committee, raised pressing questions regarding the administration’s adherence to the Supreme Court’s orders. She expressed concern over the lack of mandatory enforcement of these directives, highlighting the prevalence of signboards in other languages like Urdu and Hindi, while Marathi is overlooked. Karkar asserted that the newly established deadline would be strictly monitored to ensure compliance.

In the context of compliance, MNS corporator Yashwant Killedar voiced his support during the Standing Committee meeting. Killedar urged BMC officials to expedite the implementation of the rules, emphasising that strict action should be taken against establishments that violate the signboard norms.

Future Actions and Compliance Monitoring

The BMC’s initiative to enforce this deadline marks a significant step towards promoting the use of Marathi in Mumbai’s commercial landscape. The civic body’s actions will likely involve increased scrutiny of establishments that have so far failed to comply with signboard regulations.

As the deadline approaches, it is anticipated that the licensing department will ramp up efforts to identify and notify non-compliant businesses. This proactive approach aims to ensure that local languages are duly represented in a diverse metropolis, reinforcing the city’s cultural identity.

Overall, the BMC leadership is committed to ensuring that Marathi signboards become a visible aspect of Mumbai’s commercial establishments, thus adhering to both legal requirements and cultural integrity. The outcome of this initiative will be crucial in determining the commitment of businesses to integrate local languages into their operations.

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