Bengaluru residents fear for safety as illegal hoardings dot Sarjapur roads

Bengaluru: Residents of Sarjapur village are up in arms over the unchecked spread of illegal hoardings, calling them not just an eyesore but also a hazard. With several flex boards now teetering dangerously over roads and walkways, locals say they're afraid to even step out during strong winds.
In the past two days alone, heavy storms caused two hoardings to collapse — one near a restaurant and another on Gunjur Road. Fortunately, no one was injured, but residents say it's only a matter of time before tragedy strikes.

Sarjapur village area, which lies outside BBMP limits and falls under Yamare village panchayat office, has seen a rapid rise in political banners, real estate advertisements, and torn flex boards along the stretch from Dommasandra to Sarjapur. Court-sanctioned approval numbers even seem to be misused to put up multiple structures, going against Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Gram Panchayat Control over Erection of Advertisements and Hoardings) Model Bylaws, 2013.
A resident from Dommasandra, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said: "The whole area is a mess, as in every direction there is either a hoarding or a banner. Yesterday while I was driving, I almost had a heart attack as one of the hoardings was shaking in the wind. It would be better if govt took strict action."
Jagadeesh Kumar, president of Sarjapur Residents Welfare Association, said: "It's a huge problem. In the 4-km stretch from Muthanallur Circle till the village, there are at least 200 hoardings of all sizes. Every day, something falls because of wind. A few are as big as 80x80ft, and it feels like the Mumbai hoarding incident isn't far for us. The situation has been the same for over a year and despite multiple complaints, the panchayat has done nothing."
Joy VR, secretary of the association, said, "In the past two days, hoardings have crashed and it is frightening. The entire stretch from Dommasandra to Gunjur and Sarjapur is cluttered with political and real estate hoardings. Some of them are even reusing court-approved numbers to put up multiple structures. Flex boards are tearing off in the wind and we're lucky no one has been hurt yet. This can't go on — KRDCL (Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd) and the state highway authorities must step in."
When TOI contacted the panchayat, officials said notices were issued and strict action is planned. "We've sent notices to the people who have set up hoardings beyond the rules, and will soon take action," an official maintained.
RULES FOR HOARDINGS
* Height shouldn't exceed 40ft from ground level
* It shouldn't be disproportionately large, in the opinion of the gram panchayat, relative to the size of land or building on which it is displayed
* The minimum distance between two hoardings is 100m
* The maximum size of ad hoarding is 32ft x 16ft
* For safety reasons, structural stability and safety certificate issued by the executive engineer, PWD, must be submitted
— Source: Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Gram Panchayat Control over Erection of Advertisements and Hoardings) Model Bylaws, 2013