BBMP: New advertising policy announced

 Advertising every 100 meters of road; Fixation of fee as per guideline rate

 BBMP: New advertising policy announced

 Bengaluru: The government on Saturday published a draft notification of a new advertisement policy to allow display of advertisements in public places and roads under BBMP. 30 days have been given to file objection.

 How many, size ads can be displayed per 100 meters depending on the width of the road. The length of these advertisements cannot exceed 40 feet. Advertisement charges are fixed as per guideline rate in respective region

 If the width of the road is 60 feet to 80 feet then every 100 meters length of the road is 800 square feet, if the road is 80 feet to 100 feet then both sides are 1000 square feet, if the road is 100 feet to 200 feet then 1,100 square feet, if the road width is more than 200 feet then 1,200 square feet can be displayed. .

 In circles, 300 square meters of advertisement can be displayed for every one lakh circle area. Length cannot exceed 60 feet.

 In commercial or industrial areas where the road is less than 60 feet, 300 square feet of advertisement can be displayed for every one lakh square feet of circular area. Length cannot exceed 30 feet.

 Auction by tender: 

Open auction of roads, roundabouts and areas or tendering in separate or aggregated lots is taken by Chief Commissioner of BBMP.

 Allowed in private area: Apart from government roads, roundabouts, buildings and plots, advertisements are also allowed on private roads, commercial plots and buildings. Anyone who has to display advertisement on metro pillars, stations, infrastructure sites should get contract from BBMP itself.

 If advertisement is displayed in places where property tax is being paid like residential area, building, 10% of property tax amount will be fined. Also BBMP can remove it in any case. Property owner will have to pay 100% penalty of property tax if advertisement is displayed on B-registered property. If the property does not have any kind of account, the owner has to pay a penalty of twice the amount of property tax.

The license granted by BBMP is only for advertisement display. A separate agreement must be obtained from the owner of the area where the advertisement will be displayed. No license shall be granted without such agreement.

 License Required: 

Only licensed advertisers registered with BBMP are eligible to participate in auction or tender to display advertisement. The advertiser shall pay such license fee, registration fee and security deposit as may be determined by the Chief Commissioner from time to time.

 A fee of ₹5 lakh has to be paid while applying for registration as a licensed advertiser. Eligible persons will be granted a license for three years.

 If the advertiser violates the rules, the Chief Commissioner will order the removal of such advertisement within seven days. In case of delay in fee payment, 18% interest per annum will be levied. In case of failure to pay interest and fines, show-cause notice is issued and if no reply is received within seven days, the Zonal Commissioner shall issue an order within 20 days. They have to be cleared, the cost of which can be recovered from the advertiser or the owner of the land.

 Advertising Regulatory Commission

 In order to remove unauthorized advertisement which is injurious to public safety, an advertisement control committee is formed. Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department will be the Chairman, City Police Commissioner, BESCOM Managing Director, BBMP Taxation and Finance Committee Chairman, Joint/Deputy Commissioner of Advertising, Special Commissioner of Estates, Industry representative from Advertising Association, BBMP Road Infrastructure Chief Engineer will be the members. The Special Commissioner of Advertisements is the Member Secretary.

Where is advertising not allowed?

 Kumarakrupa Road, Windsor Manor Junction to Sivananda Circle, Raj Bhavan Road, Highgrounds to Minsk Square, Sankey Road, Highgrounds to Windsor Hill Signal, Ambedkar Veedhi, K.R. Circle to Infantry Junction, Post Office Road, K.R. Circle to SBI Circle (KG Road), Chalukya Circle, Maharani College Road, Seshadri Road, K.R. Circle, Cubban Park and Lalbagh Precinct, Nripatunga Road, K.R. No advertisement of any kind is allowed on the roads from Circle to Police Corner Junction, Palace Road, SBI Circle to Chalukya Circle.

 There is an exemption for advertisement display at pedestrian flyovers, bus stands, e-toilets under existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) schemes. The Chief Commissioner, BBMP, if deemed necessary, may order additional areas not allowed to display advertisements.

 The prior written permission of the Chief Commissioner shall be obtained for putting up personal advertisements in any part of the city. Advertising display is prohibited on flyovers, elevated corridors, communication towers, world heritage sites, national parks, forests, water bodies, regional ecosystem remnants areas, monuments, electric poles within one hundred meters of temples, mosques, gurdwaras, churches and other religious places.

 Advertising which disturbs the concentration of motorists, color of traffic signal lights, poster, graffiti, affixed on wood, nailed, tied, attached, affixed which may cause disfigurement of the city is prohibited. Neon signs are prohibited. LED display or digital video advertisements are not permitted. Only image change is allowed for 10 seconds.

Metro Ad Equal Share

 BBMP and BMRCL shall share equally the advertising revenue from 'Namma Metro' (BMRCL) assets on BBMP roads.

 Advertising placement, auctions within assets of KSRTC, BMTC and other government owned public entities may be decided by respective agencies as per their own rules and procedures. The revenue can be fully retained by those agencies. However, if the properties are visible on public streets or roads with advertisements approved by these agencies, the tender/auction shall be conducted by the BBMP itself. Advertisement fee should be paid to BBMP. Agencies may collect ground rent from advertising companies.

Fees for advertising vehicles

 Prior permission should be obtained from BBMP to display 'traveling advertisements' on any vehicle including BMTC buses, government and private institutions. An objection letter should be obtained from the corporation giving the duration, purpose, vehicle number, list of vehicles. BBMP will calculate the tax as per advertisement and inform the agency about the amount.

 How much does it cost to advertise?

 As per the guideline rate fixed by the Registration and Stamps Department under Section 45B of the Karnataka Registration Act 1957, a monthly fee has been fixed for the display of advertisements for the respective roads, areas and circles.  

 Guideline rate (per square meter); Advertisement Fee (Per Sq./ Per Month)

 Less than ₹3,000; ₹40

 ₹3,000 to ₹5,000; ₹50

 ₹5,000 to ₹10,000; ₹60

 ₹10,000 to ₹20,000; ₹70

 ₹20,000 to ₹50,000; ₹80

 ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh; ₹90

 ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh; ₹100

 Above ₹2 lakh; ₹110