Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided not to allow hoardings and advertisements within 50 m of 12 key intersections in the city. It reiterated the no-advertisement zones in the city, which include the central business district, the Maidan, Park Street, Camac Street, East Kolkata Wetlands, Rabindra Sarobar, and Subhas Sarobar.Hoardings will not be allowed in green zones, which include Biswa Bangla Sarani between Kolkata airport and Science City, and the route from the airport to Nabanna via Chinar Park, VIP Road, Major Arterial Road through New Town, Maa flyover, and AJC Bose Road flyover.The notification also laid out conditions for the display of temporary banners during Durga Puja and other festivals while restricting the size of flex banners used for temporary display.The 12 crossings from where hoardings will be removed are Gariahat, Ballygunge Phari, Park Circus Seven Point, Moulali, Rajabazar, Ultadanga, Shyambazar Five Point, Hazra, Exide, Golpark, Taratala, and Rashbehari. Hoardings currently exist within 50 m at most of these intersections.Installation and display of hoardings have been prohibited within 25 m of buildings of archaeological, architectural, aesthetic, historical, or heritage importance. No advertisement will be allowed within 15 m of statues, minarets, or pillars of heritage importance. In places of religious significance, hoardings will not be allowed within 10 m. “No signboard or advertising hoardings shall obstruct natural light or ventilation of buildings,” the notification read.Hoardings will be allowed from seven days prior to Mahalaya and up to seven days after Bijoya Dashami. For Kali Puja, hoardings will be allowed three days prior to the festival and till three days after the festival.No bamboo scaffoldings will be allowed at median verges and road dividers. The height of bamboo scaffolding/structure installed to mount advertisements will have to be restricted to 22 ft.“No such advertisement shall obstruct the visibility of existing street hoardings, bus shelters, LED monopoles, and other advertisements permitted by KMC,” the notice said, adding, name of the puja committee concerned needs to be mentioned in a conspicuous manner.
