Despite ban, illegal LED hoardings flourish in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Despite a citywide ban, commercial advertisements have resurfaced across Bengaluru, with advertisers brazenly flouting regulations and facing little to no action from authorities.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was once praised for its blanket ban on outdoor advertising in August 2018, but poor enforcement has rendered the law ineffective.

Unchecked expansion 

In the past year alone, nearly 200 large LED hoardings displaying commercial ads have been installed illegally in key areas such as Indiranagar Junction, Whitefield, Jayanagar, MG Road, and other prime commercial streets.

Shockingly, the BBMP has not granted a single permission for these hoardings, yet no inspections or crackdowns have taken place. Some of these structures even pose safety risks to both pedestrians and motorists.

The lack of enforcement comes as the BBMP drafts a new advertisement policy aimed at generating Rs 500 crore annually. However, this initiative risks losing credibility, as the civic body appears unable — or unwilling — to regulate illegal hoardings.

Regulations ignored

Under existing rules, outdoor advertisements are permitted only through public-private partnerships (PPP), where advertisers must provide public infrastructure such as bus shelters, toilets, and skywalks in return. However, many advertisers fail to pay ground rent and advertisement fees yet continue to operate without consequence.

With illegal advertisements flourishing unchecked, the BBMP’s credibility in enforcing its own policies remains in question.