Cops grab free ad space on skywalk

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has not yet got any advertisers for its skywalks, but the Mumbai Police has put up a hoarding on its skywalk in Bandra (East), allegedly without permission.

The hoarding — a tucked flex — warns citizens about terror attacks like the one in Pune, and requests Mumbaikars to help the police in its fight against terror.

“Be our eyes and ears,” says the advertisement. The flex has been tucked at the Kala Nagar end of the skywalk.

Anand Pahal, additional chief engineer, MMRDA, said he was unaware of any such hoarding on the skywalk, constructed in 2008 at the cost of Rs13.63 crore.

The MMRDA’s plans to give advertising and maintenance contract of the skywalk had gone for a toss in August 2008 when Reliance Big entertainment failed to pay up the amount it quoted to maintain the skywalk for 10 years.

In 2008, the Reliance ADAG Group had quoted the highest amount of Rs79 crore to maintain the skywalk for 10 years. But the company did not cough up even 10% of the amount it was supposed to pay upfront.

The company also asked for two extensions, but did not pay the amount. The MMRDA then issued a notice, forfeiting the contract in April 2009.

The MMRDA was then forced to rework its strategy to appoint other maintenance contractors. But no advertising agencies have approached the agency so far.