VIJAYAWADA: Despite generating a revenue of Rs 10 crore per annum through advertisement tax on hoardings, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials are not paying any interest in the maintenance of the display boards across the city. With the incessant rains lashing the city for the last few days, the hoardings erected on buildings, many of them are in a dilapidated condition, have turned into a deathtrap for the residents and commutes.
Fortunately, motorists had a narrow escape on Tuesday night when a hoarding fell on the electric wires near Swarna Palace theatre in Governorpet, following gusty winds. As there is possibility of recurrence of such incidents in various locations of the city, public appealed to the civic body to swing into action before any untoward incidents happen. A large number of illegal hoardings can be spotted on the city roads, especially at the busy Moghalrajpuram, near Vastralatha Complex, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Eluru Road and BRTS Road. Besides, a large number of hoardings of private institutes can be spotted on electric poles on various roads. Many of them were erected without getting required approval.
According to VMC officials, only a few advertisement agencies or persons take permission from the civic body to install flexes, hoardings and banners. Temporary flexes and banners are being installed overnight without taking permission. According to the Advertisement policy of the State government, Individuals or organisations must take permissions from the local authorities before erecting flex boards and banners at public places, but many are not following the rules. Temporary banners remain for a long time even after the completion of the events, the officials say.
A senior town planning department official of the VMC told TNIE that city has a total of 814 hoardings as per records and they are being maintained by a private agency. So far, the staff removed 300 hoardings. In fact, the civic body has adopted a new policy to permit hoardings with the capacity to bear wind with a velocity of 200 miles per hour, to ensure people’s safety.