BANGALORE: After several unsuccessful attempts to check "visual pollution" and illegal hoardings, Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is set to introduce new advertisement by-laws from July 1.

Thus the proposal to ban hoardings, which was included in the BMP budget for 2006-07, has been dropped. With the annual licence for most commercial hoardings expiring on July 1, the BMP has decided to implement new advertising by-laws.

"We will ensure that the new rules are followed by all bona fide advertisers from July 1. We will do everything possible to regulate the system," BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj said on Wednesday.

"While unauthorised hoardings will be pulled down from July 1, genuine advertisers whose licence has expired will be given a month to get renewal. This apart, attempts will be made to get stays obtained by various outdoor advertisers vacated," Mr. Jairaj said.

The sub-committee set up by BMP Council to study the pros and cons of banning hoardings has expressed the same view. The committee members, who met on Wednesday, asked the Commissioner to ensure that all new hoardings permitted after July 1 are based on new rules.

While the officials are confident that the present annual advertisement revenue of over Rs. 5 crore can be doubled, corporators feel there is potential for more than that.

New by-laws

The new by-laws comprise rules for hoarding specifications, location of display, pricing slab, and height restrictions.

While some roads including Mahatma Gandhi Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, Raj Bhavan Road and Vidhana Veedhi will be made "hoarding-free zones", hoardings will be strictly banned on the setback area of any building.

Mr. Jairaj told The Hindu that the city would be categorised into different zones.

"While the core area will be hoarding-free, a permitted area will have hoardings of 12 x 24 feet size.

"Another area will be earmarked for slightly bigger hoardings," the Commissioner said.

The new by-laws had provisions for permitting light electronic display screens, neon and glow signboards, which were not allowed in the present by-laws, he added.

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