Pune: With the assembly elections approaching, Pune Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale has instructed officials to remove all flex banners across the city before the Election Code of Conduct is enforced. He further warned that any delays or failure to remove unauthorized advertisements will result in punitive action.

In recent weeks, there has been a surge in the display of flex banners, especially with political messages. These banners, which feature phrases like "Strong MLA" are primarily aimed at attracting voters during the festive season. Additionally, many unauthorized commercial banners have been erected, leading to widespread defacement of the city’s aesthetics.

As the Election Code of Conduct is expected to come into effect within the next week, all political advertisements and banners will need to be removed.

Dr. Bhosale has preemptively issued orders to clear the city of these flex banners and unauthorized advertisements. Any hesitation in complying with these orders will result in penalties, as emphasized by the Commissioner.

Meanwhile, PMC has published a list of 380 locations within the city that will now be designated for the display of temporary advertisements, such as banners, boards, posters, and flags.

These permissions will be granted through regional offices, marking the implementation of a state government order issued in 2022. This step has been taken to curb the rising issue of unauthorized and rampant advertisements, which have marred the city’s aesthetic appeal.

The PMC's Sky Sign and License department has issued a public advisory, urging individuals and organizations to secure proper permissions through regional offices before placing advertisements.