A motorist had a lucky escape on Tuesday after a portion of a huge advertisement hoarding collapsed and landed on his motorcycle near Dabolim airport, leaving him injured. This incident comes as a chilling reminder of a danger that continues to stalk Goa’s roads. The motorist survived, thanks to his helmet, but the incident once again exposes a pattern of official negligence.
Goa has witnessed such hoarding collapses in the past. In June 2025, gusty winds led to the collapse of a massive hoarding along the busy Arpora-Calangute road. In April 2023, a G20 promotional flex hoarding collapsed along the Verna-Dabolim highway and hit a moving car. The incident sparked intense fury among people who threatened a 'rasta roko' while demanding the immediate removal of unstable structures. Unfortunately, such hoardings are allowed to stand despite the obvious risks they pose; call it administrative apathy, the prioritisation of revenue over public safety or a disregard for judicial directives.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the right to safe and hazard-free roads is an integral part of the Fundamental Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Citizens cannot be expected to accept avoidable risks created by administrative lapses. High-speed highways and major arterial routes cannot be allowed to become corridors of danger due to unchecked commercial activity.
There are also clear restrictions governing advertising structures along highways. Under guidelines backed by judicial precedent, commercial hoardings are prohibited within the Right of Way (ROW) of National Highways. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued directives as far back as 2016 for the removal of structures falling within the ROW. Large roadside hoardings can become dangerous projectiles during storms and high winds, while their sheer size and placement can distract motorists travelling at speed.
Much of the problem stems from a familiar culture of institutional buck-passing. When a hoarding collapses, responsibility quickly becomes entangled between municipal bodies, panchayats, the National Highways Authority of India, planning authorities and private advertising agencies. Commercial considerations and advertising revenue appear to take precedence over structural inspections, wind-load assessments and safety clearances. The result is authorities turning a blind eye to these dangerously lurking structures.
The deadly Ghatkopar hoarding collapse in Mumbai in May 2024 showed just how catastrophic the consequences can be. Seventeen people were killed and dozens injured when the massive structure came crashing down. The tragedy prompted the Supreme Court to issue stringent directions aimed at preventing similar incidents. In Goa too, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has repeatedly intervened against illegal hoardings along NH-66.
What is needed now is sustained enforcement before another one comes down. Every existing hoarding near highways and major public roads should undergo an independent structural audit, with particular attention to its foundation, stability and ability to withstand severe weather. Also, any commercial advertising structure located within the statutory ROW of a National Highway must be removed in accordance with the applicable MoRTH guidelines. There can be no selective enforcement simply because a hoarding generates revenue or has been allowed to remain for years.
Public safety on Goa’s roads cannot be left to chance, luck or the strength of a motorcyclist’s helmet. The State’s executive authorities have both a constitutional responsibility and a legal obligation to act. The time has come to ensure that judicial orders and safety regulations are enforced on the ground, before another hoarding turns into a tragedy.
