Signs they are a-changin: First look at new signage plan

The capital city will soon be done away with haphazard positioning of traffic and commercial signages as the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) has approved a proposal for a well-planned comprehensive signage system.

The Charles Correa Foundation (CCF), entrusted with rationalizing and designing the existing signages is also tasked with drafting a policy, the first phase of which will be presented at the CCP council meeting on December 15.

Speaking to Herald, CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues said the intent of the project is to document, analyze, propose modifications and redesign the existing traffic and information signage system across Panjim. This, he explained will ensure uniformity, legibility, readability and effective way-finding. 

The CCF has begun the survey of all the existing signs as it also prepares to draft the policy, which will be enforced once approved. “We have done some legwork. The first draft will be presented at the CCP meeting after which we will go ahead drafting the second and final phase,” said director of CCF, Rithuraj Parekh. 

The formation of policy for a commercial signage system aims at drafting the guidelines and regulations in a bid to benefit stakeholders, including citizens and advertisers. According to the proposal, a well-implemented and thought-of urban commercial signage policy will ensure control, reasonability and clarity in commercial signages throughout the city. 

The Mumbai Heritage Area commercial signage regulation and South Ayrshire Planning Service’s proposal for commercial signages will be undertaken for the study.  

“The regulations for commercial signages vary with respect to the character of the area they are being placed in and also the type of signage used for visual communication... The policy will have guidelines for all private and commercial signage systems in Panjim,” an official said. 

The proposal document will be drafted with a legal assistance to be presented for consideration and review. Consultants and experts will then be approached for assistance on the same context. 

Under the road and traffic signage system, the CCF that will coordinate with the Project Cell and other departments of the corporation, will address three urban types - mandatory, cautionary and information signages. This project will propose a comprehensive reorganization and rationalization through documentation, planning, design and appropriation.   

Besides the documentation and mapping, the concerned agencies also highlight filling some of the existing flaws into the positioning, height, legibility, orientation and absence of signs at certain places, and the density and position.