No More ‘Flexing’ – Bengaluru To Get Blanket Ban On Commercial Hoardings

The ‘Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging Policy - 2018’, a new advertising policy that places a blanket ban on all commerical hoarding within Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits was released on Tuesday (28 August) reports The Times of India.

Areas like Brigade Road and other pedestrian-only shopping streets or high value landmark centres developed by government or BBMP would get an exemption subject to an evaluation and approval by authorites.

This would exclude signs placed on public transit stations, bike sharing stations or car share facilities ,when such signs are placed by sponsors of such facilities,or at skywalks and bus shelters where private parties have invested money in exchange of advertising rights.

BBMP will submit the reports to the Karnataka high-court by 31 August who had been under severe criticism for not regulating hoardings in the city.

As per a policy in 2006 BBPM had earlier divided the city into four zones and allowed different kinds of hoarding in each of these zones. The new policy retains the punishment of one lakh in fine and six months of imprisonment.

The opposition demanded to remove exceptions pedestrian-only shopping streets. Bengaluru Mayor had promised take the demands of the opposition into consideration before sending the proposal to the state government.

Also Read: Visual Pollution: Illegal Flexes And Banners In Bengaluru To Invite Criminal Cases From Here On