The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Metal scaffolding atop buildings facing the axe in Chennai

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Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Metal scaffolding atop buildings facing the axe in Chennai

Staff Reporter

Those on private premises are being dismantled only now
Industry is being regulated, say officials

Chennai: The huge metal scaffolding atop buildings are next on target for removal as part of the Chennai Corporation’s drive to remove unlicensed hoardings.

The vinyl advertisement banners of 4,184 unlicensed hoardings have been removed. Scaffoldings of hoardings on footpaths were removed in the first two weeks of the drive but those on private premises are being dismantled only now.

Hoarding owners have expressed concern that the entire outdoor advertising industry has been wiped out. However, officials at the Collectorate and the Chennai Corporation said the industry was only being regulated. Those who wished to put up hoardings could apply for licences but would have to ensure that the sizes comply with the specifications of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Licensing of Hoardings and Levy and Collection of Advertisement Tax Rules of 2003.

These rules fix the maximum size of hoardings in relation to road space.

Owners of hoardings on private premises have removed the scaffoldings that have high resale value when sold as scrap iron. Only the billboards on medians and bus shelters continue to be used for advertisements.

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