Mumbai Coastal Road Billboards: Fisheries Dept Seeks BMC, MSRDC Approval For Revenue Boost

The Fisheries and Port Development Department is seeking approval to install advertisement boards along the Mumbai Coastal Road.

The department has submitted a request for permission to the BMC and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), with the aim of enhancing the state’s revenue streams.

The Minister for Fisheries and Port Development Department, Nitesh Rane, explained the initiative to The Free Press Journal (FPJ), stating that his department wants to explore avenues for revenue generation. He said the installation of hoardings along the coastal road is one such step in that direction.

“We have identified several patches along the coastal road where land belonging to the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) is being used, but the department has not received any compensation in return. Therefore, we have written to BMC and MSRDC to seek permission to erect advertising hoardings and generate revenue through these advertisements,” Rane said.

Rane also highlighted other potential revenue streams that the department plans to pursue. One such area is Carter Road in Bandra, where the BMC charges Rs75,000 per event for hosting activities. The MMB provides no-objection certificates for such events, but the department currently does not benefit financially from them.

Similarly, the MMB has land at Marve in Malad (West), which is frequently used for film and television shoots. It costs Rs4,000-Rs14,000 per day for filming at these locations, but again, the MMB does not receive any revenue.

Rane also shared plans for the MMB to lease a piece of land near the Sea Rock Hotel in Bandra, which will be utilised for hosting events. He further mentioned that he has instructed MMB officers to revise the policy of issuing NOCs without collecting any charges from the applicants.

The minister outlined an ambitious target for his department to generate between Rs500 crore and Rs1,000 crore annually, a goal that aligns with the broader vision set by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Rane revealed that the chief minister has directed all ministers to identify and implement new revenue generation methods within their respective departments. In line with this directive, Rane has been exploring various channels to boost the financial inflow for the Fisheries and Port Development Department.