Pune: PMRDA Approves Hoarding Policy, Sets Guidelines for Advertisement Boards
Pune, 16th July 2023: Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has recently approved a comprehensive hoarding policy for the area within its boundaries. The new policy mandates that all advertisement boards within the PMRDA area must display the approval number, date, and duration of the granted permit. Furthermore, the policy includes provisions for regularizing unauthorized boards.
The need for a hoarding policy became apparent following a tragic incident in PMRDA limits where a collapsing hoarding resulted in the loss of civilian lives. The incident revealed the absence of a clear billboard policy in the area, with a significant number of illegal boards erected without regulation. The lack of a policy had hindered appropriate action against violators. In response, PMRDA has now taken the necessary steps to approve and implement an advertisement board policy within its boundaries. The implementation of this policy is expected to generate approximately ₹50 crore in revenue for PMRDA.
Sunil Marle, the metropolitan planner for PMRDA, stated that currently, applications for boards must be submitted directly to the PMRDA office.
The process for implementing the hoarding policy will involve the following steps:
- Issuing notices to those with unauthorized advertisement boards.
- Providing an opportunity for regularization of unauthorized boards.
- Demolition of boards belonging to non-applicants.
- Regularization of applications by imposing a compromise fee double the development fee.
- Establishment of a separate mechanism to grant permission for erecting boards.
- Development of a website for online permission requests.
According to the hoarding policy, it is mandatory for advertisers to obtain a certificate from a structural engineer every two years to ensure the safety of the advertisement boards. To verify the authorization of the boards, advertisers must prominently display the approval number, date, and expiry date on each board, along with a QR code of the approval order. PMRDA has designed the policy to enable citizens to easily verify the authenticity of the approval.
The rates for hoarding permits under the policy are as follows:
- ₹70 per square foot for roads on expressways, national, state, and major district routes.
- ₹60 per square foot within a 10-kilometer radius from the final boundary of Pune and Pimpri Municipalities.
- ₹50 per square meter for rural areas within PMRDA limits.
To obtain permission, applicants must submit the following documents:
- Board construction map along with the application.
- Consent letter from the owner of the premises on a ₹100 stamp paper, accompanied by a photograph.
- Applicant’s undertaking.
- Architectural Stability Certificate.
- Tenancy agreement, if the premises are rented.
- Site plan of the location.
- Satellite photo of the location.
- “No Objection Certificate” from MSEDCL confirming the absence of power lines in the vicinity.
The implementation of the hoarding policy aims to regulate advertisement boards within PMRDA’s jurisdiction, ensuring public safety and generating revenue while offering a streamlined process for obtaining permissions.
