Illegal flexes & banners: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike pins hope on high court approval for advertisement zones | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is struggling to manage illegal banners and flexes in the city, has pinned its hopes on the high court giving permission to establish designated zones for advertising. With illegal installations continuing to flood public spaces despite a blanket ban, penalties, and court orders prohibiting them, BBMP is hoping to impress upon the court to allow dedicated zones to enable better regulation.In the past 11 months alone, BBMP has removed more than 25,214 unauthorised banners and flexes, filed 448 FIRs, and collected Rs 4.1 lakh in fines. Yet, officials admit that enforcement has had little lasting impact. “We clear the banners today, and tomorrow they’re back. It’s a visibility problem — people want to be seen, even if it means breaking the law,” said a BBMP official.A video clip posted online on July 3 reignited public outrage. It showed a footpath in Nagarbhavi blocked by bamboo poles, stacked containers, flags, and political banners — forcing pedestrians on to the road. The footage has gone viral, with citizens calling out the encroachment of public spaces and political indifference to safety.BBMP officials say current penalties under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act and BBMP Act are too lenient. Fines as low as Rs 1,000 offer no real deterrent to repeat offenders. As part of a stronger crackdown, the civic body has proposed a 2024 Advertisement Bylaw, which includes dynamic fines calculated based on banner size and location — potentially doubling standard ad rates.The bylaw also proposes the introduction of legal advertising zones, modelled on Delhi’s advertisement policy approved by the Supreme Court. These zones would allow limited placements on private property or wide roads, strictly excluding footpaths, medians, and trees. BBMP argues that legalising and regulating banners would reduce clutter, improve compliance, and generate civic revenue.The proposal remains stalled in court after the earlier 2018 bylaw was struck down as unconstitutional. The 2024 draft, filed in Jan, awaits judicial approval. “If passed, we’ll finally have a system to regulate content and location. Until then, illegal flexes will keep appearing,” the official added.While some banners are intended for public awareness or event promotion, BBMP says their placement often endangers pedestrians and degrades urban aesthetics. “Designated boards can balance public messaging with order and safety,” the official said.