BBMP extends deadline to change nameboards on commercial establishments by a day

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) deadline for changing nameboards of commercial, industrial and business undertakings, trusts, counseling centers, hospitals, laboratories, amusement centers, and hotels with 60 per cent Kannada ended today. But BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath has issued an order extending the deadline by one day.

Today was the last day for the implementation of mandatory Kannada nameplates. But the commissioner extended it by one day. As many as 3,000 commercial establishments are yet to put up Kannada nameboards. If the nameboard is not changed by February 29, the BBMP officials will remove them, the BBMP chief said.

The BBMP Chief Commissioner, Tushar Giri Nath has warned businesses to change their nameboards immediately.

The BBMP has given another day to those who have not yet changed the nameboards with 60 per cent space for Kannada. If it is not changed by tomorrow evening, strict action will be taken, he warned.

“Already, 90 per cent of the nameboards have changed. Only about 3,000 nameboards remain. They should change by tomorrow evening. Some institutions such as SBI and Canara Bank, have requested for extending the deadline for the installation of the nameboards. They have to decide on this tomorrow evening”, Tushar Girinath added.

Narayana Gowda, state president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike faction, said the state government and the BBMP and had set a deadline till today to implement the order through an ordinance. “Out of a total of 50,216 businesses, notices were given to 40,600 establishments. About 3,600 business centres should put up Kannada nameplates in their business establishments. The BBMP chief Commissioner said that if Kannada nameplates are not implemented by tomorrow, their licenses will be cancelled”, he said.

He further said that if the 60 per cent Kannada rule is not fully implemented, they will stage a protest. “It should not be restricted to Bengaluru. There should be Kannada nameboards in all districts and taluks in the state. Otherwise, KRV activists will stage protests in all districts. About 3,500 to 4,000 commercial shops in Bengaluru still have to get 60 per cent Kannada nameboards. If they fail to follow the norm, we will make it happen through protest. We will wait until March 1 to see what action the BBMP will take against rule violators. If no action is taken by the BBMP, we will hold a massive protest on March 5”, Narayana Gowda added.