After nearly six years of a blanket ban on commercial hoardings, the Karnataka government has lifted restrictions on outdoor advertisements in Bengaluru. The new rules aim to balance city aesthetics, safety, revenue needs, and orderly urban development. This move comes in the wake of significant financial losses for the municipal body, which expects to earn up to ₹500 crore annually from advertising licenses.

Key Features of the New Policy

  • Commercial hoardings are now permissible, but subject to strict regulations on location, size, and spacing.
  • Hoardings can only be placed on roads wider than 60 feet or in designated commercial and industrial zones. Intersections may have billboards, but footpaths and public roads are off-limits.
  • No two hoardings can be located closer than 175 meters apart.
  • Maximum sizes are specified according to road width: for example, up to 1,200 sq ft allowed on a 200-foot road; 3,000 sq ft in large commercial circles.
  • All advertisement rights are issued through public online auctions. Rates per square foot are linked to area guidance value.
  • Prohibited zones: Sensitive areas such as Kumara Krupa Road, Raj Bhavan Road, Palace Road, and Seshadri Road fully ban hoardings, partly due to VIP movements and heritage concerns.
Only hoardings with proper permissions on private or government-owned land are allowed. Unauthorised structures face removal and heavy penalties.

Additional Conditions and Restrictions

  • No hoardings allowed on heritage buildings, lakes, water bodies, or in locations that compromise traffic visibility or pedestrian safety.
  • Hoardings with illumination have strict limits: no neon signs beyond 10 p.m., no video or moving digital ads, and luminance is capped.
  • Stacking or “clubbing” hoardings (placing one above another) is strictly prohibited.
  • All advertising content must comply with decency standards and not offend public sentiment.
  • Any violation can lead to license cancellation, fines, and legal action by the city corporation.

Expected Impact

The Bengaluru civic body expects this revised approach to boost revenues while minimizing visual blight, traffic hazards, and unauthorized proliferation of hoardings. Strict surveillance and a regulatory committee will monitor compliance, and citizens are invited to share objections or suggestions within the public notice period.

Reactions and Next Steps

  • Advertising industry welcomes new opportunities, while civic activists caution about enforcement and urban aesthetics.
  • The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will begin issuing new licenses through auctions and promises swift removal of illegal structures.
  • The policy will be reviewed based on initial outcomes, enforcement success, and public feedback.

Conclusion

Bengaluru’s skyline is set for change with regulated outdoor advertising. The city faces the challenge of striking a sustainable balance between civic revenue, business interests, and maintaining urban charm.