Ending months of speculation, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) plans to adorn the concrete pillars of Namma Metro with advertisements.
There were suggestions by sections of people to paint the pillars as the concrete façade was not aesthetically appealing. Now, BMRCL has decided to lease them out for advertisements.
Initially, Pillar Nos. 10 to 207 on the 7-km stretch of Reach 1, between Anil Kumble Junction on M.G. Road and Byappanahalli, will be up for auction for ad purposes, tenders for which will be called shortly.
BMRCL General Manager (Finance) U.A. Vasanth Rao told The Hindu , “Painting the pillars is an expensive affair and they will require fresh coats of paint after every monsoon. If we leave them as they are, the pillars will be ‘decorated' with posters and buntings, making things worse. If they are given for advertisements, the agency will prevent any disfigurement,” he said.
The move will bring in revenue to BMRCL. Mr. Rao said, “Our aim is to cross-subsidise the travel cost as much as possible. Revenue from advertisements will help cushion the operation cost.”
Mr. Rao denied that the advertisements would distract motorists. He said pillars at busy traffic junctions will not sport any advertisement. If ads are found to be distracting, motorists and traffic police can say so, and BMRCL will remove them, he said. The BMRCL has now invited tenders to provide electricity supply to these pillars so that the selected bidder will not have any problem in arranging power supply.
