# BMC issues notices to 294 Mumbai shops without Marathi signboards 2026-09-16T21:46:28+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued notices to 294 establishments in Mumbai for not installing Marathi signboards as mandated by the Supreme Court. The action was taken during inspections of 9,798 establishments across 10 wards between August 20 and September 9. Diksha Karkar, chairperson of BMC's law, revenue and general purposes committee, said the second phase of the drive focused on major roads such as S V Road, L B S Marg and Link Road, as well as the Eastern and Western Express Highways. One establishment, Badshah Cold Drink Depot, was fined Rs 9,000 and subsequently installed a board displaying both English and Devanagari scripts in equal font sizes. The issue gained attention in May when corporators criticised the civic body for lax enforcement of the Supreme Court order. They noted that several establishments, including star hotels and rooftop restaurants owned by celebrities, as well as MNC outlets, display only English boards. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The BMC's renewed enforcement follows the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling that made Marathi signboards mandatory for all commercial establishments in Maharashtra. The law, part of the state's policy to promote the regional language, applies to shops, hotels and offices. Non-compliant businesses face fines starting at Rs 9,000 and can have their licences suspended. With over 2 lakh registered establishments in Mumbai, the current drive has covered less than 5% of them, suggesting many more inspections are ahead. The civic body has not announced a deadline for full compliance. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: BMC, Diksha Karkar, Marathi, Mumbai, Supreme Court Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bmc-issues-notices-to-294-mumbai-shops-without-marathi-signboards/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bmc-issues-notices-to-294-mumbai-shops-without-marathi-signboards/#story-in-brief