'Over Rs 90L collected from traffic pedestals'

MUMBAI: The BMC on Tuesday informed the Bombay high court that it had collected over Rs 90.8 lakh from the 86 traffic pedestals that were installed on various roads in the city. The corporation’s revelation came even as the state government told the court that private sponsorship was required to maintain these traffic pedestals. A division bench of Justices Bilal Nazki and A P Deshpande has scheduled the hearing of the PIL, filed by Khar resident I K Chhugani against the sponsorship of police chowkies, for April 23. Chhugani had filed the PIL claiming that builders were sponsoring the construction of chowkies and had even put up their advertisements. The state had assured the court that it will pull down all such illegal chowkies. Subsequently, Chhugani also raised the issue of the traffic pedestals that have sprung up all over the city. In its affidavit, BMC said that it had so far collected Rs 93.80 lakh as advertisement fees and ground rent for the 86 traffic pedestals in the city. P T Goud, joint secretary (home), filed a separate affidavit. Goud said traffic pedestals were essential for the traffic cops as they provide shelter to them, especially during the summer and rainy seasons. The state added that there was no possibility of the pedestals being misused. The state said that advertisers would be able to maintain the traffic pedestals properly. Goud also said that there had been no instance of the construction of such pedestals with advertisements, causing any harm to the public, or leading to any accident due to a driver’s attention being diverted.

THE TIMES OF INDIA; 16 Apr 2008, 0442 hrs IST , TNN