Bhatinda civic body axes outsized shop signages in city

Municipal Corporation Bhatinda has mandated the removal of some 15 large shop signages in the city, most of which have been put up by shops dealing in mobile handsets. While at the outset the move is aimed at curbing unauthorised shop signages – that are mushrooming in the city – it emerges that the civic body is also offsetting the impact such outsized signages have on outdoor advertising. Large signages seemingly affect outdoor media advertising, which in turn hit the ad tax revenues that accrue to the civic body.

As per reports, the civic body is still to recover some Rs 1.5 crore as taxes on the signages. Also, as per the advertising policy, a shop is not permitted to put up more than one signage, and there is a penalty imposed on shops that put up more than one signage or put up signages of multiple brands.