[sukhoi30]

Friends,

Of late, I have seen a big increase in advertisement hoardings along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. I personally hate such hoardings as it spoils the beautiful view and the fun in driving on an expressway. Needless to say thse hoardings tend to distract the vehicle driver.

Several times, even if I am not looking at these advertisements while driving, my attention is drawn to it by my fellow passengers. You can imagine similar thing happening to several drivers on the expressway. Some of you must have noticed that ugly Tata Docomo hoarding on top of the hill just after the khalapur toll. It really spoils the entire scenary especially in the monsoons.

I have also noticed that though the advertisement hoardings have increased, there is no change in the general traffic signages. There are several stretches on the expressway which I feel require proper singages like speed limit, accident prone area, no overtaking etc.

I did a google and got this link ...
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=86813

So, it is clear that whatever hoardings are there is simply illegal.

Fellow BHPites, what do you say? Do you see such hoardings on all national highways/expressways? What can be done to remove them?

[dhaval-mehta]

The highways are literally filled with this signboards and sometimes they even cause one to take a detour because of missing a sign. The only way to get rid of these hoarding would be if the law you mentioned was taken seriously and the NHAI went down taking out every one of them. But that seems too far fetched.
The best way would be to fine the culprits and use the money to build better sign boards for the general traffic and routes!
Can't think of anything better. Thanks sukhoi30 by the way. Never knew these signs were illegal.

[carwatcher]

When I was in Chennai in 1999-2000 I remember seeing 100s of hoardings in one place at the busiest road in the city. I can't remember the name correctly (maybe Mount road). That scene of 100s of hoardings 10s of hoarding one over other and 10-15 of hoarding in length continuously. Whenever outdoor hoarding topic is discussed, I remember that scene immediately. Wonder if its still the same.
Nowadays, here in Goa, the large hoardings are making their way back. 2-3 years ago, the govt. put them down in large nos. as they were interfereing with natural beauty and rightly so. But now they are increasing day by day and I must say they spoil the view.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by sukhoi30

I did a google and got this link ...
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=86813

So, it is clear that whatever hoardings are there is simply illegal.

Please read the press release in its entirety. It says "advertisements within the Right of Way" are not allowed. The "Right of Way" only refers to the land that is in use as a highway, including any adjoining areas which may have been acquired for further usage. People who own land or any other property right next to the highway, are very much free to use it to put up advertising hoardings.

I personally dont think that when one is driving, you are responsible for not getting distracted by anything, be it an advertisement, or anything else.

[Soumyajit9]

Originally Posted by julupani

Please read the press release in its entirety. It says "advertisements within the Right of Way" are not allowed. The "Right of Way" only refers to the land that is in use as a highway, including any adjoining areas which may have been acquired for further usage. People who own land or any other property right next to the highway, are very much free to use it to put up advertising hoardings.
I personally dont think that when one is driving, you are responsible for not getting distracted by anything, be it an advertisement, or anything else.

I am in double minds what would be legally and logically correct in terms of this press release.

What you say is absolutely correct when logically thought, or when the press release is read carefully.

However, what I feel is that the hoardings are actually a public nuisance.
Since you are from Bhubaneswar (and so am I), how do you find the millions of hoardings on the Bhubaneswar - Cuttack National Highway (if you can call that a highway).

Pitch dark highway with glaring lights from huge hoardings. Quite a scene for disaster, no matter how careful or non-distracted you are.
During the day, your co-passenger suddenly points you to a huge hoarding offering upto 50% off at a mall, you take your eyes off for a millisecond, and bang.

The city is expanding and so are various establishments that are dotting this corridor. And with various big establishments, comes bigger hoardings. The real estate is booming around this area and hence prices are rising. So the land owners don't mind renting out their land for a huge hoarding.
I am unsure what is the legal process for obtaining permission to erect these hoardings.

In my humble opinion, rather strict opinion, NHAI should start thinking about strictly regulating the size of a hoarding, distance from which one should be from another, distance from the border / shoulder of the road, etc.
Else, please ban them completely.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

I am in double minds what would be legally and logically correct in terms of this press release.

What you say is absolutely correct when logically thought, or when the press release is read carefully.

However, what I feel is that the hoardings are actually a public nuisance.
Since you are from Bhubaneswar (and so am I), how do you find the millions of hoardings on the Bhubaneswar - Cuttack National Highway (if you can call that a highway).

........

In my humble opinion, rather strict opinion, NHAI should start thinking about strictly regulating the size of a hoarding, distance from which one should be from another, distance from the border / shoulder of the road, etc.
Else, please ban them completely.

Well, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack section of NH5 is now practically a city road chock-a-block with traffic all day. So unlike most highways speeds barely rise over 60-70. So I dont mind these at all."

Also, most of the region around this section of the highway have within the last few years come under municipal control, either Bhubaneswar MC or Cuttack MC. So the municipalities now do control the number of hoardings and earn fees from them. So it is not completely out of control.

But in places where the land next to the highways is under gram panchayats, NACs etc I doubt there is any control over hoardings.

Overall, I still feel it is your responsibility not to be distracted.

I am not in favour of banning hoarding like I said. At best one can control them to an extent. When highways fall under city jurisdictions, the rules that apply to those cities should continue to apply. If there are no such rules, then at best some law may be past controlling the number/size etc of hoarding which are facing the highway and within a certain distance of the "Right of Way".

But even such a rule will be next to impossible to implement. So in all practical sense, I suggest be careful while driving and not get distracted by hoardings or anything else.

Just to give you an example, you may have noticed a 22-floor apartment buliding is coming up on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on the NH5. There are many people who look at it with amazement. But we dont say that lets not build any special or attractive buildings beside the highway, it may distract the people on the road.

[Soumyajit9]

Originally Posted by julupani

Also, most of the region around this section of the highway have within the last few years come under municipal control, either Bhubaneswar MC or Cuttack MC. So the municipalities now do control the number of hoardings and earn fees from them. So it is not completely out of control.

Oh, I am not aware that these have come under BBSR / CTC MC. But shouldn't NHAI have any kind of agreement with the MC about erecting hoardings or about the safety of highways ?

But in places where the land next to the highways is under gram panchayats, NACs etc I doubt there is any control over hoardings.

Yes, gram panchayats are beyond control. But again, developments are less around these areas, so one can expect lesser hoardings around these areas.

What I mean is, you see million hoardings on the BBSR - CTC NH, because it is closer to cities and businesses. So it is comparatively easier to control with a good agreement between NHAI and MC.

At the same time, I didn't see many hoardings on the NH while travelling to Berhampur. The hoardings start appearing in massive numbers when approaching a city or a town. Now these places have MC, so why not regulate ?

Overall, I still feel it is your responsibility not to be distracted.
....
But even such a rule will be next to impossible to implement. So in all practical sense, I suggest be careful while driving and not get distracted by hoardings or anything else.

The saying "God Helps Them, Those Who Help Themselves" - Is a Fact.

Just to give you an example, you may have noticed a 22-floor apartment buliding is coming up on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on the NH5. There are many people who look at it with amazement. But we dont say that lets not build any special or attractive buildings beside the highway, it may distract the people on the road.

Ehhh, is it on the Khurdha side, near Khandagiri ? Many people have told me, I have failed to notice. I will be there 2 weeks later, will check it out.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

Oh, I am not aware that these have come under BBSR / CTC MC. But shouldn't NHAI have any kind of agreement with the MC about erecting hoardings or about the safety of highways ?

Yes, gram panchayats are beyond control. But again, developments are less around these areas, so one can expect lesser hoardings around these areas.

What I mean is, you see million hoardings on the BBSR - CTC NH, because it is closer to cities and businesses. So it is comparatively easier to control with a good agreement between NHAI and MC.

There is no such agreement. Municipal Corporations, at least in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, have certain rules regarding hoardings within the entire city. As these areas fall under city, thus the rules apply.

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

At the same time, I didn't see many hoardings on the NH while travelling to Berhampur. The hoardings start appearing in massive numbers when approaching a city or a town. Now these places have MC, so why not regulate ?

Well, the NH at least for now passes outside Berhampur, so you dont see many hoardings. Whether to regulate or not is completely upto the Municipal Corporations or other local bodies themselves and not mandated by the NHAI. Some local bodies control, others dont.

Originally Posted by Soumyajit9

Ehhh, is it on the Khurdha side, near Khandagiri ? Many people have told me, I have failed to notice. I will be there 2 weeks later, will check it out.

Actually its at Pahal. Its situated next to and within the complex where the new Audi Bhubaneswar showroom has come up. Its called Utkal Heights.

There is also one, called Cosmopolis, coming up near the highway and Khadagiri Square, but that one I think is 16 or 17 floors.

[PetrolRider]

Originally Posted by julupani

Please read the press release in its entirety. It says "advertisements within the Right of Way" are not allowed. The "Right of Way" only refers to the land that is in use as a highway, including any adjoining areas which may have been acquired for further usage. People who own land or any other property right next to the highway, are very much free to use it to put up advertising hoardings.

I personally dont think that when one is driving, you are responsible for not getting distracted by anything, be it an advertisement, or anything else.

+1.

Yes. Most of the hoardings are on private lands. From NH, few feet of lands are under NH authority and advertisement on that is illegal. But, you can do anything on a private land. Someone can build a house on his land adjacent to the NH and someone also can erect hoarding post and rent it to advertisers.

Law follows the written rule and not logic. And the advertising agency finds the loop holes to do the business. If you remember 15-20 years back, when the CTC-BBSR road was two lane (before world bank project), the hoardings are bang on the highway bank. But, as you see now, these hoardings are pushed back to farm lands. So, even if Govt. puts a blanket ban on advertisement hoardings for let's say 100 meters from both side of highways, the advertisers will put even bigger hoardings on 100 meter margin and make sure that it will distract you till you reach their shop.

[pushkark]

according to the press release:

"Instructions have been issued from time to time to executing agencies for dismantling/removal of existing advertisement hoardings on National Highways within the Right of Way"

It clearly states that the only the hoardings that are in the right of the way will be removed. ie. any hoardings that are placed along the highway (outside the fence on expressway) would not be removed.

[King_pin09]

Originally Posted by pushkark

according to the press release:

"Instructions have been issued from time to time to executing agencies for dismantling/removal of existing advertisement hoardings on National Highways within the Right of Way"

It clearly states that the only the hoardings that are in the right of the way will be removed. ie. any hoardings that are placed along the highway (outside the fence on expressway) would not be removed.

Agreed, usually these hoardings are illuminated during night hours with high intensity lamps. The unnecessarily bright hoardings clubbed with high beams of oncoming traffic only make life more miserable.

I wonder why the administrative sovereign does not come up with clear and unequivocal diktat (as in case of Airlines) like, "Any hoarding that is visible from the expressway shall be removed".

Well, to me, these instructions seem to be only a consoling act between display of concern for public safety, and revenue generated from advertisements.