The next drive across Zirakpur’s traffic-choked roads may finally target not just the congestion below, but the clutter above.The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a comprehensive removal of all illegally installed billboards, unipoles, bipoles and gantries — making it clear that merely stripping off flex sheets will not suffice if the skeletal structures continue to stand.The direction came after the Court examined Zirakpur Municipal Council’s own reply and photographs. The Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu observed it revealed that advertising structures remained widely installed in clearly prohibited areas. These included rooftops of buildings, residential zones, heritage sites and monuments, as well as transportation hubs like airports, railway terminals, bus stands and truck terminals — even extending to crematoriums and burial grounds.The Bench observed the material on record showed flex banners had been removed in some cases, but the metallic frameworks supporting them were still intact.The Court ordered: “The Executive Officer of Municipal Council, Zirakpur, is directed to ensure removal of all Bill-boards, Unipoles, Bipoles and Gantaries installed unlawfully in areas where they are not permitted and file a compliance report along with photographs before the next date of hearing.”Strategically located at the junction of key arterial routes, Zirakpur serves as a crucial gateway linking Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, with heavy traffic flowing daily towards Chandigarh, Panchkula, Ambala, Patiala and Kalka.The National Highways and flyovers passing through the town carry a dense mix of local and inter-state vehicular movement, making any obstruction or distraction along these stretches particularly hazardous. In this backdrop, the unchecked proliferation of illegal hoardings along these high-speed corridors assumes added significance, as it directly impacts commuter safety on one of the region’s busiest transit belts.The directions are also significant as these aim at complete dismantling — not partial measures that leave behind structural remnants. The order transforms a routine clean-up into a targeted enforcement exercise aimed at restoring compliance in both letter and spirit.The matter is now listed for May 8, when the Court will review whether this mandated “drive” has translated into actual removal on the ground.The matter was brought to the high court’s notice after petitioner, Arjun Shukla filed a petition in public interest and appeared before the Bench in person.He had, among other things, raised alarm over the rampant proliferation of illegal and unauthorised hoardings in Zirakpur and along the National Highways connecting it to Banur, Patiala, Ambala and Kalka, flagging them as a serious threat to public safety and a violation of established legal norms and directives.He submitted that such hoardings had come up at non-designated sites, including along major highway stretches and the Zirakpur flyover, often exceeding permissible dimensions and encroaching upon the Right of Way (ROW). The petition pointed out that these structures distracted motorists and significantly increased the risk of accidents.Referring to the gravity of the issue, the petitioner pointed at recent incidents, including the collapse of a hoarding in Zirakpur that damaged multiple vehicles.The plea also drew attention to relevant circulars and regulatory frameworks governing outdoor advertisements, asserting that, violations continue unchecked despite clear guidelines.The Union of India was represented by Additional Solicitor-General Satya Pal Jain.