Chennai, June 20::
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has begun a city-wide enumeration of illegal hoardings and banners, marking a renewed push to regulate outdoor advertising and improve urban safety across Chennai.
Following instructions from Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran, civic officials have been tasked with identifying unauthorised hoardings across all 15 zones of the city. The initiative comes amid concerns over increasing violations and structural safety risks, especially during the northeast monsoon and cyclone-prone months.
According to civic data, Chennai currently has around 912 authorised hoardings, while a previous survey conducted in October 2025 identified at least 329 unauthorised installations. Officials say the actual number could be higher due to cases where permitted hoardings were shifted to different locations without approval.
The Corporation has already ordered removal of illegal structures, though progress has been limited, with only a small number taken down so far. Enforcement teams have cited difficulty in tracking violations consistently across the city.
As part of the new plan, the GCC is also exploring technological solutions such as QR code-based identification for authorised hoardings. This would allow officials to quickly verify legality and improve monitoring efficiency.
In addition to enforcement, the civic body is planning revenue generation through a public-private partnership model. Under this approach, select buildings may be identified for regulated hoarding installations to increase the Corporation’s own-source revenue.
Officials have also reiterated that banners are generally not permitted within city limits, though they continue to appear during political and religious events. These are often removed, and penalties are imposed on organisers when violations are found.
Ward councillors have raised concerns that illegal hoardings are increasing and pose serious risks to public safety, particularly if they collapse during heavy rains or high winds. The issue has become more prominent in high-traffic stretches such as Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, where multiple unauthorised installations have been reported.
The drive is expected to continue across the coming weeks, with the Corporation aiming to strengthen enforcement and reduce visual clutter and safety hazards in the city.