The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has categorically refused to pay 50 per cent of the revenue it receives from the rental of billboards on premises under its jurisdiction, including the flyover, to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The BMC held a hearing on the draft of the new advertisement policy of the civic body on Tuesday, February 11. The MSRDC took this firm stand at that time.
The BMC has revised its advertisement policy of 2008 and prepared a new advertisement policy. The draft of this policy has been announced and suggestions have been invited. The civic body has received a large number of suggestions and objections and a hearing was held on Tuesday in accordance with these suggestions and objections.
According to the new advertisement policy, if permission is required to put up an advertisement board on the premises under the jurisdiction of MHADA, MMRDA, Mumbai Port Authority, MSRDC and other various authorities in Brihanmumbai, then 50 percent of the revenue received from the rent of the board will have to be paid to the civic body. The MSRDC had opposed this provision from the beginning and registered its objection.
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Sources in MSRDC informed that the opposition to this provision was clearly expressed by MSRDC in the municipal hearing on Tuesday. When MSRDC started implementing the 55 flyover project in Mumbai, it was in 1997 that the Cabinet Infra Committee gave MSRDC 100 per cent rights for commercial use. Accordingly, MSRDC is getting 100 percent of the revenue from advertisement rent on the flyover. Sources said that MSRDC officials raised a question during the hearing on the basis of which the civic body is asking for 50 percent of the amount.
According to the new policy, the BMC has demanded 50 percent of the revenue from the rental of advertisement boards on the premises of government agencies. But at the same time, no such provision has been made for advertisement boards on private places. A question was also raised about how the municipality is asking for revenue from the government agencies.
At the same time, the provision of obtaining a 'no objection' certificate from the municipality before issuing tenders for billboards was also opposed this time. Taking the 'No Objection' certificate and taking further action will take a long time. Therefore, this provision will not be viable. Sources also said that if this provision is to be implemented, the BMC should provide a 'No Objection' certificate within a fixed period. Overall, MSRDC is adamant about not giving 50 percent of the revenue to the civic body. MSRDC and other authorities are now looking at what role the municipality will take, and what provision will be made in the final policy of the municipality. Meanwhile, MSRDC and other authorities are also understood to be opposed to this provision.
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