Mumbai: Deadline for Marathi signboards extended till September 30

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has given relief to shopkeepers and extended the time limit to put up Marathi signboards on shops till September 30. This three months extension was given after the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) made a request to BMC administration. This is the third deadline extension given by the BMC to retailers. After the state legislature cleared a bill of making Marathi signboards in Devnagari script compulsory for shops and establishments, the BMC had issued an order stating that such signboards should be installed in shops by May 31. Thereafter, deadline was extended till June 30.

Recently, a meeting was conducted between Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Ashish Sharma, Deputy Commissioner (Special) Sanjog Kabre, and Chief officer of Shops and establishments Sunita Joshi and representatives of the FRTWA. According to traders, there is scarcity of labourers and artists in the market to make neat and clean signboards as well as fancy signboards. Because of more demand, material cost for making signboards have also gone up. Hence, they were seeking six months extension. After the meeting, a report was given to BMC commissioner who then gave three months' extension to shops and establishment.

According government order, if a signboard displays the name of any shop or business in more than one script, the one in Devnagari font should be bigger. The font of the Marathi-Devnagari script cannot be smaller than that of the other scripts. Failure to comply with the rules would be attract a penalty up to Rs. 1 lakh, Also, a fine of Rs. 2 thousand per day would be imposed in the event of continued no compliance with the law. =The BMC order had covered all establishments like grocery shops, offices, hotels, restaurants, bars and theatres.

There are more than 5 lakh shops and establishments in Mumbai.