Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on Monday conducted a drive to remove unauthorised advertisement hoardings in different parts of Bangalore city.

On the first day staff of BBMP Byatarayanapura zone removed 400 sign boards, 135 big hoardings and 750 banners in the zone limits. Mahadevapura zone officials removed unauthorised hoardings in Marathalli, Whitefield area. South zone officials removed buntings and unauthorised hoardings in Binnypet, Basavanagudi division, Hanumanthanagar, Koramangala, Banashankari, Banashankari Ring road, Banashankari park, Banashankari 2nd stage and surrounding areas.

The Palike has decided to initiate criminal proceedings against those who had put unauthorised advertisement hoardings according to violation of disfigurement act 1981.

The BBMP staff also removed unauthorised constructions built on footpaths. According to Deputy Commissioner of Mahadevpura zone Heera Naik, there was stiff opposition from the localites when the staff was clearing footpaths in Marathalli and Whitefield areas. “The association of footpath vendors and cobblers objected. However, the staff succeeded in continuing the clearance work”, he said. Byatarayanapura zone officials collected a penalty of Rs 25,000 from those who had encroached footpaths.