The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stepped up enforcement against commercial establishments in Mumbai that have failed to display mandatory Marathi signboards, with five-star hotels and major corporate offices now coming under increased scrutiny.
The directive was issued during a special meeting of the BMC’s law committee chaired by Diksha Karkar. Licence inspectors and officials from the Shops and Establishments and legal departments were instructed to strengthen inspections and enforcement across the city’s wards.
Civic officials believe focusing on high-profile establishments could encourage wider compliance among smaller businesses. The campaign covers shops, restaurants, hotels, corporate offices, retail outlets and other commercial premises, which are required to display signboards in Marathi using the Devanagari script alongside any other language being used.
The latest action follows an earlier citywide directive issued by the civic body. Mumbai Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadigaonkar had specifically highlighted five-star hotels and celebrity-owned businesses, warning of “Shiv Sena-style” action against establishments that failed to comply within the stipulated one-month period. He had also said the requirement was linked to a Supreme Court directive.
According to civic officials, BMC inspection teams have already visited a substantial number of the estimated nine lakh shops and establishments across Mumbai. Thousands of businesses have reportedly been found violating the signage requirement during the ongoing checks. Notices have been issued to non-compliant establishments, while prosecution has been initiated in cases where violations continued.
The requirement for Marathi signage in Devanagari script stems from directions issued by the Supreme Court, which provided businesses with a designated period to comply and allowed penalties for continued violations.
The issue has also remained politically sensitive in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has repeatedly campaigned for greater use of Marathi on commercial signboards and has previously protested against non-Marathi signage in Mumbai and Thane.
The BMC’s renewed focus on prominent businesses reflects a broader push to increase the visibility of Marathi in Mumbai’s commercial landscape. Civic and political representatives have presented the policy as a way of maintaining the state’s linguistic and cultural identity amid the city’s growing cosmopolitan character.
However, the civic body has not specified how many five-star hotels or corporate offices are currently non-compliant, nor has it disclosed the exact penalties or licence-related action that could follow if violations persist.
Source: Prop News Time
