Commissioner’s approval mandatory for advertisements, non-compliance will lead to penalty

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued a crucial order regarding the display of advertisements within the city. According to the BBMP Act 2020, Section 158, it is mandatory to obtain written permission from the Chief Commissioner before displaying any advertisement on buildings, land, walls, or public spaces within BBMP jurisdiction.

The order also emphasizes that advertisements displayed without this approval are prohibited. In addition, the Zonal Commissioners have already issued directives under Section 307 of the BBMP Act 2020, detailing the conditions and rules for business licenses, which include a ban on printing advertisements without written consent from the Chief Commissioner.

To effectively manage unauthorized advertisements, including banners, hoardings, and cutouts in Bengaluru, the previously issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been withdrawn and replaced with a revised one.

The revised SOP aims to address the growing concern over illegal advertisements within the city. Zonal Commissioners have been instructed to set up teams of Junior Engineers, Assistant Engineers, and Assistant Executive Engineers to remove unauthorized advertisements in their respective zones with the help of marshals.

If individuals are found displaying unauthorized advertisements, FIRs will be filed, and penalties will be imposed. In case of complaints about illegal advertisements, a control room will be set up for each zone, ensuring prompt action. Furthermore, the BBMP advertisement control teams will work closely with local police stations to monitor and remove unauthorized advertisements and file FIRs when necessary. Violators will face legal action, including fines and potential imprisonment.