New ad by-laws boon for BMP

New ad by-laws boon for BMP
Deccan Herald

Will the new by-law, which replaces the five-decade old law, bring an end to the dilemma of lucrative advertisement revenue or the city’s visual aesthetics?


Advertising has come of age. But the new by-law to rein in the mushrooming commercial hoardings in Bangalore has come after ages. The new advertisement by-laws 2006 is a shot in the arm for the cash-strapped Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) buckling under the growing menace of unauthorised hoardings.

Will the new by-law, which replaces the five-decade old law, bring an end to the dilemma of lucrative advertisement revenue or the city’s visual aesthetics?

“This year, we are targeting about Rs 16 crore from advertisements alone. But it will not be at the cost of veiling the heritage monuments,” assure BMP officials.

Imagine walking through Raj Bhavan road or the Kumara Krupa Road without being forced to spare a thought on buying the best diamonds in town or the hep live-in jeans. The new law has clamped a ‘No hoarding zone’ (Zone A), along 10 arterial roads to enhance the visibility of heritage monuments and landmarks like Vidhana Soudha, Raj Bhavan, Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh. While, the traffic junctions will be spared of gigantic hoardings believed to be a magnet for accidents.

“Hoardings will go off public parks, gardens and flyovers. The zones B, C and D will allow hoardings but restrict size and height for display,” add BMP officials.

Last year, the BMP fell short of the target of Rs 25 crore as it managed to sponge off only Rs 8 crore. Thanks, to growing litigation and lapses in vigilance.

Last year, 683 hoardings were under litigation, while, lapses in vigilance lead to rampant growth of unauthorised hoardings, rue councillors.

“No unauthorised hoarding in the city will be spared. However, the fate of the hoardings under litigation will be decided after our legal cell gets the stay orders vacated,” said BMP Commissioner K Jairaj, soon after the licence period for the hoardings ended on June 30.

The BMP is bracing itself to augment its revenue. The new law empowers the BMP to tap into all forms of new-age advertisements - from shop advertisements, window ads, petrol bunks to those on BMTC buses, Railways, Airport Authority of India, banks and PSUs.

Public safety

Citizens, who are already threatened by heavy winds, tree collapse and uprooting of electric poles, can discount the hazards of ‘flying hoardings’.

Hoardings will maintain a safe distance from the windows and doors of residences and commercial buildings and uncovered electrical transformer.

“The agency constructing the hoarding will have to procure a technical certificate for structural stability,” clarify officials, adding that penalties for by-law violations will range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. “Habitual offenders (agencies) will be ineligible for future registrations,” warn officials.

NO-HOARDING ZONE

*Kumara Krupa Road, Windsor Manor Jn to Shivananda Circle

*Rajbhavan Road, High Grounds to Minsk square

*Ambedkar Veedhi, KR Circle to Infantry Road Jn

*Post Office road, KR Circle to SBM Circle

*Chalukya Circle

*Maharani College Road

*KR Circle

*Cubbon Park, Lal Bagh

*Nrupathunga Road, KR Circle to Police Corner Jn

*Palace Road, SB Circle to Chalukya Circle