Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) began auction of advertising rights after the abolition of a seven -year ban on accumulation in the city to generate revenues of over 500 GBP. However, local companies are afraid that applicants from other countries can lose.
Last month, the Karnataka government introduced a new advertising policy, but the rules framed under it were deeply dissatisfied with advertisers. During the meeting before the BID, which was attended by more than 60 companies, several fears were stuck, and many claimed that the system was designed to “prefer” large companies.
The local advertiser, who took part in the meeting, said the whole process of participating in the offer was unnecessarily cumbersome.
“The offers hovered in the last week of July and the last date is to record is 25. August. It hardly leaves the time to ensure advertising rights and obtain a certificate of objection (night),” the advertiser explained.
The selection document requires applicants to obtain fresh rights because the previous record is seven years old and secured the night from the advertising department of the civil body.
“We need to present our business records to the advertising department for verification to get the night. These records include our BBMP routes, which the department will investigate thoroughly. This process includes repeated clarification and will take considerable time,” said the advertiser.
Interestingly, advertisers believe that gaining night will be much easier for new participants, especially those outside Karnataka, because they do not have to present a record with BBMP. The way he claims gives foreigners a competitive advantage.
Despite the cumbersome process of gaining the night after providing advertising rights, only two candidates asked for it to 15 August, according to a well -placed source in BBMP. The night is mandatory to be connected to the final bid form.
Advertisers fear that the new system will strongly tilt balance in favor of large companies.
“Since each zone will be awarded a single company, only large players with deep pockets are likely to win offers. This new policy clearly prefers newcomers and large corporations, while smaller companies remain without occasional,” said another advertiser.
In addition, companies that win the offer must pay the initial fee five times higher than the amount of the offer, which is a requirement that effectively excludes smaller companies from the competition.
According to the new policy, only eight companies will be provided throughout the city.
“This not only creates a monopoly for one company in each zone, but also removes the owners of the real estate their bargaining power,” the advertiser said. New rules also prohibit advertising on public spaces such as sidewalks and trees, which forces advertisers to deal with private property owners about the universe.
In addition, advertisers claim that the civic body has already closed partnership of the public and private sectors with companies that control advertising at bus and billboards, which effectively reduces the available space for new applicants.
Despite extensive criticism expressed during the preliminary meeting, the BBMP remains firmly in its plan to perform a technical offer on August 27.
The BBMP official said there was enough time between the introduction of the auction process and the conclusion of the selection procedure. “This policy is modeled around Delhi’s advertising policy approved by the Supreme Court and at the same time with regard to pollution and other environmental aspects,” the officer said.
Published – 17th August 2025 17:34
