Hoardings in parks to check wall defacement in Delhi

NEW DELHI: In a bid to create advertising space for small traders free of cost, increase revenue and check illegal advertisements at public spaces, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation plans to come out with a policy for installing hoardings at municipal properties in residential neighbourhoods.
The policy will include provision for hoardings at colony parks, toilet complexes and other sites of horticulture, community service and department of environment management services in settled colonies.So far, the civic agency has identified 75 parks for implementing the project.
A corporation official said that two hoardings of 10 by 6 feet will be placed at each park and will be e-auctioned at a comparatively lower price. Contractors will also be required to create and maintain a free public notice cum flyer board of 10 by 6 feet near the boundary wall of the parks. “The policy will help us generate revenue and check illegal display of pamphlets on public walls,” said the official.
The flyer board can be used by general public, RWAs or local traders for displaying fliers free of cost. Local can also use space for displaying information related to social and religious events, the official added.
Residents have, however, expressed mixed reactions on this proposal. Saurabh Gandhi, RWA member from Rana Pratap Bagh, said that the project will not reduce illegal pamphlets unless strict action is also taken. “Most illegal pamphlets are political in nature and displayed at every nook and corner. Also, creating additional space for advertisements won’t help as spaces on unipoles are already lying vacant at many places in north Delhi,” he said.
A North Corporation official said that the terms and conditions for granting rights for display of advertisements on the parks has been finalised. A committee headed by the deputy commissioner of the corporation selected the 75 sites after a survey assessed the potential of properties for displaying advertisements.
The committee suggested e-auction of these sites for a period of two years that can be extended by another year. “The proposal has been forwarded to the finance department for sanction, after which it will be sent for final approval,” said the official.
The project for placing hoardings of 10*8 feet at municipal toilet blocks is already underway.