HYDERABAD: Painted to a corner over the recent collapse of a unipole over "structural failure" and resultant stringent norms set up by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), outdoor hoarding agencies have appealed for change in some of the new rules.

The GHMC has sought `standardised' hoardings and unipoles along with mandatory third party quality check by a technical university or institution with the size of the hoardings restricted to 50 feet in width and 25 feet in height.

The hoarding agencies are now seeking a relaxation in the size — both height and width-wise — taking into consideration the market realities since land availability was scarce in the prime locations. They have pointed out that the consulting engineers empanelled by the civic body were too "busy" with infrastructure works like flyovers and hence, they sought more number of firms to be included in the panel for a third party quality check.

The agencies have sought at least three months time with regard to May-end deadline fixed by the GHMC for fulfilling all the guidelines and producing fresh structural stability certificates for each unipole and hoarding with detailed design.

Referring to the advance payments made to the corporation towards tax, they wanted some kind of relief or even return of part payments. Further, a quick decision was necessary on the pending applications for new unipoles and hoardings.

There are an estimated 75 unipoles and 1,800 hoardings dotting across the skyline of the twin cities and 50 unipoles more are awaiting permission.

In the meantime, the GHMC is said to have cleared Rs. 50 lakh worth of its own hoardings with six agencies all over its territory with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's photo prominently displayed and promising better services to citizens.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail