The Bombay High Court today directed Maharashtra government to remove all illegal traffic pedestals on busy intersections carrying advertisements. A division bench headed by Justice S A Bobade passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation seeking CID enquiry into the advertisements displayed on traffic police pedestals across the city. V P Patil,advocate for the petitioner,said that there were traffic pedestals even on busy roads and some also displayed advertisements of private companies. The PIL filed by Khar resident Indur Chhugani alleged that the city's traffic police,in connivance with the civic authorities,had illegally allowed a private company to install advertisement booths at all busy traffic intersections. Chhugani claimed that the advertisements on these pedestals were sourced illegally and the racket involving some of the senior officers was worth Rs 10 crore every month. The PIL further stated that the monthly revenue generated from these advertisements (Rs 10 crore) goes into the pockets of the advertisement company and corrupt policemen,instead of the state government coffers. Chhugani also alleged that the electricity required to light up these ad-booths is pilfered from traffic signals. Directing for all illegal pedestals to be removed,the court has asked the government to file an affidavit to that effect by January 18,2012.
