Mohali: In blatant disregard of Punjab and Haryana High Court directions, large advertising hoardings — including newly installed marriage promotion boards — surfaced dangerously close to traffic signals across Mohali, creating serious road safety hazards and raising questions about enforcement by civic authorities.The High Court clearly barred the installation of any advertisement hoarding within a 50-metre radius of traffic signals, citing risks to public safety. However, ground reports reveal multiple violations at busy intersections where oversized boards compete for drivers’ attention at crucial decision-making points on the road.Road safety experts warn that such visual clutter near signals significantly increases the risk of collisions. Drivers approaching intersections must focus on signal changes, pedestrians, and merging traffic. Instead, their attention is diverted by bright, elevated commercial displays designed specifically to capture the eye.Mohali municipal commissioner Parminder Pal Singh said the issue would be examined.“We are already acting strictly against illegal encroachments on berms outside houses following High Court orders. We will get this violation verified and take action,” he stated.The illegal structures are not limited to Mohali alone. Similar hoardings, unipoles, and banners were spotted along major stretches in Zirakpur, Kharar, and connecting highways such as the Banur-Zirakpur Road and Lalru-Zirakpur-Kalka Road. These installations violate the Punjab Municipal Outdoor Advertisement Policy 2018, which strictly regulates size, placement, and safety clearances for outdoor advertisements.Despite the policy’s explicit prohibition of displays near traffic control points, enforcement on the ground appears weak. Several hoardings stand directly within drivers’ line of sight at intersections — precisely the scenario the rules were framed to prevent.The matter already reached the judiciary. In 2025, a local advocate filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting the mushrooming of illegal hoardings and unipoles, especially in Mohali and Zirakpur’s municipal limits. The petition described the sites as “clear traffic hazards” and sought immediate removal, along with financial recovery from those responsible, suggesting that recovered funds be used for public welfare.Following related contempt proceedings, the Mohali deputy commissioner submitted an affidavit to the High Court in August 2025 detailing steps taken to remove illegal hoardings and unauthorised parking near sensitive zones such as Airport Road and popular malls. The Court also directed top officials, including the Director General of Police and Municipal Commissioners, to ensure removal of hazardous structures, warning of personal liability and possible prosecution for negligence.Yet, months later, the ground reality suggests that illegal displays continue to reappear or remain untouched.Traffic police officials, speaking off the record, admitted that large hoardings near signals reduce reaction time for drivers, especially at night or in poor visibility conditions.With Mohali’s traffic density rising rapidly, even a momentary distraction at a signal can result in multi-vehicle crashes, said a senior police officer.Until authorities carry out sustained removal drives rather than one-time actions, Mohali’s intersections risk remaining advertising hotspots — and potential accident zones.TOI Impact: Obstructing hoarding removed from pedestrian walkwayActing swiftly after the issue was highlighted in TOI, the Mohali administration removed an advertising hoarding that was blocking a pedestrian walkway in the city. The structure forced pedestrians to step onto the road, posing a serious risk of accidents, especially during peak traffic hours. Residents raised concerns about public safety and accessibility, noting that the obstruction particularly affected elderly people, children, and persons with disabilities. Following the report, municipal officials inspected the site and cleared the encroachment, restoring safe passage and reaffirming the administration’s commitment to pedestrian safety.
