Due to the ban imposed on advertisements and hoardings in Bengaluru, Namma Metro has been affected since its non-fare revenue that it collects through advertisements on pillars are no longer allowed. The loss is estimated at Rs 9 crore until March 2018.
Every single pillar and portal inside stations rake in about Rs 44 crore, as in last year. With Phase 1 being entirely functional a year ago, the advertisement revenue jumped from Rs 6.55 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 8.13 crore in 2017-18. Due to the ban, so far, the body has faced losses of Rs 5.19 crore and will touch Rs 9.21 crore by March.
After Karnataka High Court called for a ban on all illegal flexes and hoardings, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has banned all outdoor advertisements for a year.
Deccan Herald quoted BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Seth as saying, “BMRCL stands to lose potential revenue of about Rs 10 crore a year. Instead of the proposed total ban, BMRCL intends to seek regulated advertising, which does not cause a distraction to commuters.”
Tenders will soon be floated for indoor advertisements.