BBMP eyes ₹600 crore revenue from hoarding revival with new ad policy amid revenue losses

Bengaluru’s skyline may soon see the return of advertisement hoardings, as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) gears up to revise its advertisement rules. The move comes in response to mounting revenue losses following the court-imposed ban on hoardings.

Also read: Karnataka High Court criticizes government, BBMP over unauthorized hoardings

The civic body has been losing an estimated ₹50-100 crore every month since the ban was enforced. In a bid to recover from this financial setback, BBMP is working on a new set of rules that will comply with court guidelines while allowing limited reintroduction of hoardings.

The revised policy, currently in the works, proposes hoardings at designated locations only. Officials believe this controlled return could generate between ₹600-700 crore annually for the corporation. Despite the High Court being convinced of the financial importance of such revenue, it had declined to lift the ban under the current framework—prompting BBMP to explore this alternative route.

With this “Plan B,” BBMP hopes to strike a balance between legal compliance and the need to boost civic revenues. Preparations are underway to ensure the revised rules align with judicial directions, aiming to avoid further legal complications.

If approved, the new rules could mark the return of Bengaluru's once-prominent advertising landscape—albeit in a more regulated and restricted manner. The proposal is expected to be tabled for consideration in the coming weeks.