Eyeing Rs 750 cr, BBMP looks to bring hoardings back with old policy

Bengaluru: Nearly seven years after the enforcement of a blanket ban, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is exploring legal avenues to reintroduce commercial hoardings, as the cash-strapped civic body eyes an additional Rs 750 crore in annual revenue.

To make this happen, the civic body is considering using certain provisions of the Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging Bye-laws of 2018, which permit regulated commercial advertising.

Top BBMP officials are leaning towards this alternative as the Karnataka HC is yet to give its verdict on the state government’s new advertisement policy introduced in 2024. Although the court had recommended certain penal provisions, the revised policy has not been cleared for implementation.

According to officials, the delay is causing a monthly revenue loss estimated between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100 crore.

“We are incurring significant losses due to the absence of advertisement revenue,” said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath, adding they are now planning to enforce the 2018 policy until the court clears the 2024 version.

The BBMP had formulated a new advertising policy in November 2023 but the state government approved it only after 11 months.

Plan B set in motion

In 2024-25, the civic body projected revenue of Rs 500 crore but earned nothing as the policy was approved midway through the fiscal year; it subsequently came under the scrutiny of the High Court. 

As a part of its contingency plan, the BBMP is banking on the High Court order of 2023, which deals with the 2018 advertisement bye-law. While Clause 7.1.1 of the bye-laws had originally banned hoardings and temporary signages, this clause was struck down by the Karnataka High Court in March 2023, terming it arbitrary and unconstitutional. The ruling allowed outdoor advertisements on private properties.

The ruling allowed outdoor advertisements on private properties.

Furthermore, Section 10 of the 2018 bye-laws empowers the BBMP commissioner to permit signage, advertisements, and public messaging on a fee basis, renewable every three years.

Under this revived policy, advertisements will be permitted only on public and commercial properties, as the old rules continue to prohibit advertising on private residential premises.

Highlights - Alternative plan BBMP looking at operationalising 2018 bye-laws, which permit regulated commercial advertising Top officials keen on this as HC is yet to give verdict on govt’s new ad policy introduced in 2024 Delay is said to be resulting in a monthly revenue loss estimated between Rs 50 crore and Rs 100 crore