Corporation plans electronicdisplay boards across city

Activists say the move is illegal and against road safety rules

A model display board the Corporation had erected on Mettupalayam Road, near Avinashilingam University, in the city.

Coimbatore Corporation’s plans to have 30 electronic advertisement boards in the city have come in for questioning from activists who suggest that it may be against rules.

The Corporation recently floated tenders for 30 electronic display boards (EDB). While 20 % of the board area will screen pollution, humidity, noise level and messages that the Corporation gives, the rest will be the space for advertisements.

The advertisements will be repeated during a cycle of 10 minutes. Of those 10 minutes, the board will screen messages that the Corporation gives.

The Corporation has plans to erect the display boards in Town Hall, Ukkadam, Kovaipudur, Eachanari, Marudhamalai foothills, Vadavalli bus terminus, Ganapathy bus terminus, Saravanampatty Junction, Singanallur bus stand, Ondipudur, Puliakulam - near Sungam Junction and other places.

Officials in the civic body say the contract would be for 15 years and in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Licensing of Hoardings and Levy and Collection of Advertisement Tax Rules, 2013.

But activists have taken objection to the move, saying it is in violation of rules.

Coimbatore Consumer Cause’s secretary K. Kathirmathiyon has said the move ias illegal and against road safety rules. For erection of such boards, the Corporation will have to take permission from other government departments concerned - Highways Department if the boards are to be on Highways roads.

But the agencies are unlikely to grant such permission, as there is an order from the Additional Chief Secretary to District Collectors to remove all advertisement boards.

The Corporation should understand that mere display of public information on the boards will not make it legal, Mr. Kathirmathiyon has said and pointed to instructions on road safety from Indian Road Congress and the Government of Tamil Nadu. There are a number of court and government orders in this regard. If the Corporation chose to ignore those and go in for advertisement in those boards, the consumer body will be constrained to take it to the notice of the State Government and court, he said.

Officials, however, maintain that the civic body will follow all rules.