The BMC has also accused the railways of cluttering public spaces with advertisements without adhering to BMC guidelines.
Hoardings and posters put up on railway premises in the city have become a bone of contention between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the railways, as the two bodies are divided over the revenue-sharing formula.
The BMC has also accused the railways of cluttering public spaces with advertisements without adhering to BMC guidelines.
“Railways have been flouting the guidelines framed by the civic body. No permission or NOC [no objection certificate] is obtained from the licence authorities. This also makes it difficult for us to recover the advertisement fee,” said Dinkar Kharat, licence superintendent.
Section 328 and 328A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, makes it mandatory for the railways to follow guidelines laid down by the civic body. However, railway authorities give permissions to advertisers to erect hoardings and earn the revenue themselves, said Kharat. Railways also do not bother to supervise how the hoardings will be put up, he added.
BMC guidelines state that the there ought to be a minimum gap of 20 metres between every advertisement, while it cannot be displayed without erecting a pole or a bi-pole.
Civic officials added that revenue matters have been pending since 2008. “Despite several notifications, railways turn a blind eye to our guidelines. The only motive for them is to earn higher revenue even if that is at the cost of cluttering the railway premises. What we get out of these hoardings is a meagre sum of money,” said a senior civic official.
However, the railways refuted the claims of the BMC. “The railways are not obliged to take prior permission from the BMC. We have a separate department that monitors the hoardings on our premises. The onus of the advertisements falls on us. So why should the guidelines be theirs (BMC),” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief spokesman of Western Railway.
He added that the railways should get an equal share of the advertising fee charged on banners directly visible from railway premises and those that partially fall under railway supervision.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}