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Metro shuns political ads

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 29. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has decided against allowing political advertising on its trains or other properties and has made the contractor of its advertising spaces take off the "BJP" advertisement panels from its trains, a day after they had been put up.

Sources in the Delhi Metro said E.C. Communications, which had been given the contract for advertising on the Delhi Metro properties, had yesterday put up a "BJP" advertisement inside a Metro train. However, this was not approved of by the authorities who came to know of this panel around noon today and soon after had it removed.

The DMRC spokesperson said the agency has been taken to task over the issue as according to the contract signed between it and the Delhi Metro last year, it should get all the advertisements approved by the Corporation before displaying them. Since, the agency had not taken permission, it has been told to adhere by the terms of agreement.

The Delhi Metro, being a joint venture of the Union Government and the Delhi Government, wants to stay clear of any political controversies and its Managing Director, E. Sreedharan, is firm that nothing should come in the way of its progress.

Though the putting up of political advertisements is not "illegal" as several spots on the Delhi Metro system have been set aside for advertising, which is a major source of revenue for the Corporation, sources said commercial interests will not be allowed to rule over ethics.

A senior official of the Delhi Metro said as the Corporation is basically a "government office", it feels hesitant to allow advertising for any political party. "That such advertising is legal and can be availed of by any party is a different matter. But we want to keep out of politics and concentrate on the progress of the project," he declared.

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