BBMP to come up with new advertisement policy, hopes to raise revenue

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is planning to come up with a new advertising policy to curb unauthorised advertisement hoardings, flexes and banners in public places. The civic body has started preparations to implement the revised policy and is expecting to rake in crores in annual revenue.

The BBMP plans to curb unauthorised advertisement billboards, flexes and  banners in the city and raise revenue. For this, the advertisement bylaws are being amended. The Palike had banned hoardings which spoil the beauty and environment of the city. As per a resolution taken in the BBMP meeting, advertisement display is completely banned except on certain occasions.

However, political parties and private individuals have been violating BBMP rules and the High Court orders by putting up flexes and banners everywhere. Therefore, the Palike came up with a new plan to control such illegal flexes and banners.

What is in the new advertisement policy?

• The BBMP is amending bylaws with regard to outdoor advertisement.
• There may be a possibility of a 50 per cent increase in rate from earlier.
• Advertisements will be allowed only in premises owned by BBMP.
• Zones will be fixed to increase BBMP revenue from advertisements.
• BBMP will fix separate tariffs according to the zones.
• A monitoring team will be formed at the zonal level to deal with unauthorised advertisements.
• It aims to register 10 cases each month in each zone for illegal advertisements.
• The Palike will change the previous advertisement tender rule.

Palike Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said, “Allowing private parties to display advertisements in public places will increase BBMP’s revenue. Earlier, before the ban, the Corporation was earning approximately Rs 100 crore annually. Then, 50 per cent of advertisements on more than 8,000 hoardings under BBMP jurisdiction were illegal. In spite of all the illegal advertisements, the Palike was earning Rs 100 crore. Now, a new policy has been formulated and the Corporation expects an annual income of Rs 600 crore”.