The Hindu 23.12.2010
GHMC wants total ban on lollipop ads
HYDERABAD: The GHMC is demanding Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), Roads & Buildings as well as the National Highways Authority to follow its example and pull out the lollipop advertising boards on central medians once current allotment periods are over.
The police had earlier demanded the municipal corporation to remove such lollipops put up on the central medians of its roads through a public auction as it posed a security threat besides causing distractions and obstructions to the vehicular movement.
Now, it has realised that other departments have been freely granting such permissions on a nomination basis without even informing the civic body though most stretches are located within city limits.
“Ad agencies are supposed to maintain central medians including greenery but at most places they are in pathetic state,” pointed out senior officials.
Central medians at most places are in a bad shape and in fact, have merged with the road carpet level leading to mishaps. Agencies, which pay only advertisement tax to GHMC and ground rent to the respective government departments, are also supposed to ensure that the height of the median is proper, say officials.
“We are forced to maintain all main roads under our jurisdiction even if they belong to other departments. We have also taken up greenery maintenance on some central medians,” they claim.
Senior officials also charge that agencies have been illegally putting up lollipops in more lucrative medians. For instance, one agency which became prominent during the previous Chief Minister's time put up lollipops from Mehidipatnam to Narayanaguda despite having got the nomination for Langar Houz to Shaikpet. Lollipops (1,723) belonging to eight agencies – Icatch, Janahita, MNR Outdoor Ads, Retail Scapes, Rishi Ad Media, See More Communications, Sneha Advertisers, Laxmipati Productions and Adways have been identified.
Municipal officials have declared that GHMC would get at least 50 per cent of the income generated from any advertising signboard.
