BBMP has finally stopped approving new hoardings

BBMP has finally stopped approving new hoardings and renewing old licences. Times City looks at how the ban affects those dependent on this ad medium
Aarthi R | TNN


The BBMP’s advertisement department has always come under fire for scams and irregularities surrounding sanctions and renewals for hoardings. After years of deliberations, BBMP decided to ban hoardings from July 25.
However, behind the huge boards is a different world altogether. More than 30,000 workers — painters, fabricators, electricians, media planners, contractors and accountants among others — have to now look at other means of livelihood.
Understandably, the advertising industry is miffed about it. “Even a beautiful country like Switzerland has many hoardings, so there should be no reason for banning it in Bangalore on aesthetic grounds,” argues Syed Hamid Mohsim, proprietor of Able Advertisers.
Many ad agencies also claim that despite many alternatives
like mobile displays on trucks and autos, this traditional medium at prominent places still attracts maximum attention. Not just that, the income from hoardings on an average contributes to at least 15% of their monthly turnover.
S Suresh, a partner in Billboard Digital Printz, says their hoardings on various corporate events earn Rs 8-9 lakh per month and with no printing work for the past few days, the company has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 1 lakh.
The ban is also likely to leave many DTP workers out of work in the near future. They are either illiterate or school/college dropouts with years of training in this job. This ban could leave them with very little hope of better employment, says Suresh.
Not just hoardings, the ban also extends to flex-boards, banners, buntings and cut-outs for any occasion, public function, VVIP birthdays, festivals and greetings.
BBMP officials say that despite the ban causing a drop in revenue, the organization will take all measures to curb illegal hoardings and work on strategies that help regulate existing hoardings.
Industryspeak
Hoardings are not just income to ad agencies but also added revenue for BBMP. This includes Rs 70 crore every year as advertisement tax and other taxes on income and service
We are ready to stop hoardings. But give us a way out along with funds to repay our loans
The ban on hoardings has been a serious debate for 30 years. What surprises one most is the sudden imposition of the rule
If the bye-laws keep changing, how can any industry remain stable?
Why should an industry suffer due to a few illegal cut-outs?
(All these industry professionals spoke on condition of anonymity)
Billboard statistics
BBMP’s annual revenue from advertisement tax on hoardings in private land Rs 12 cr
Individuals registered with BBMP for advertising 10,000 No of hoardings in Bangalore city 3,000
(approx)