Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has introduced a sweeping new advertisement policy. Effective immediately, this policy prohibits the erection of billboards within a 50-metre radius of twelve prominent traffic intersections across the city. These locations include Gariahat, Ballygunge Phari, Park Circus 7-point crossing, Hazra crossing, Excide crossing, Ultadanga Hudco crossing, and Shyambazar 5-point crossing, among others.
The newly instituted policy reflects KMC’s strategy to replace traditional iron hoardings with more streamlined monopoles or unipoles. This shift is intended to reduce both spatial congestion on pavements and visual pollution. Additionally, billboards are now banned from heritage zones and structures, such as the entire BBD Bagh area, the Maidan, and iconic landmarks like Victoria Memorial Hall and the Calcutta High Court. Areas surrounding Mother Teresa Sarani (Park Street) and Abanindra Nath Thakur Sarani (Camac Street) are designated as private hoarding-free zones. The policy also extends to green zones, which include major routes like the EM Bypass and areas surrounding Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
The policy mandates that billboard structures must not obstruct traffic signals, impede building access, or disrupt light and ventilation for adjacent structures. Furthermore, billboard agencies are required to ensure that their installations complement the architectural integrity of buildings. The KMC advertisement department will oversee the structural stability of these billboards through regular inspections. This proactive approach aims to improve urban navigation and aesthetics while addressing long-standing concerns about visual and spatial pollution in Kolkata.
