Illegal hoardings are robbing the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) of revenue worth crores of rupees every year, said M. Nagaraj, Opposition Leader in the BBMP Council.
Revenue
Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, he said there are close to 3,500 hoardings in the eight zones of the BBMP, of which only 1,400 are contributing revenue to the palike.
No revenue is accruing from the rest owing to collusion between some officials and private advertisement agencies, he alleged.
Auction
“An auction in January this year for LCD hoardings in Anil Kumble Circle, Minerva Circle, Brigade and Richmond Road, Commercial Street and Sankey Road brought revenue to the tune of Rs. 2 crore for that month alone to the palike. If a similar auction is done in all eight zones, imagine the kind of revenue it will bring,” he said.
17 agencies named
He named 17 agencies who are “cheating the Palike” by displaying hoardings illegally, alleging that their modus operandi is to take permission for four boards and put up 60 instead.
Such hoardings, he said, have sprouted in unauthorised locations such as major road junctions. Moreover, there are many advertisements that flout norms of size and stand long past their expiry date.
Near BBMP office too
The Opposition leader also pointed out that advertisements have invaded Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus shelters too, with agencies obtaining licenses for one shelter and using three instead.
Ironically, an example for this can be found right behind the BBMP office, he said.
