Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) advertisement department has proposed a 60% increase in outdoor advertisement licence fees, placing a fresh proposal before the standing committee.Citing an earlier directive from Devendra Fadnavis, the proposal notes that the revised rates were kept on hold after a representation from the Nagpur Advertisers’ Association was forwarded to him during his tenure as deputy chief minister. Instructions were then issued to continue charging the old rates until the matter was reconsidered.The department now argues that the existing licence fees are outdated and significantly below current market rates. Officials noted that the current structure has remained unchanged for years and no longer reflects the scale of the city’s outdoor advertising industry.The administration has proposed revised monthly charges across categories, including non-illuminated hoardings, illuminated sky-signs, and digital LED displays, seeking approval to implement the new rates from April 1, 2026.Under the proposal, non-illuminated hoardings and wall advertisements will be charged Rs 130 per sq metre per month. Fixed illuminated sky-signs and similar displays are proposed at Rs 260 per sq metre per month, while digital or LED-based advertisements will attract the highest rate of Rs 352 per sq metre per month. Officials said the revision would align rates with prevailing industry standards and boost non-tax revenue.The proposal also highlights revenue losses resulting from the withdrawal of several outdoor advertising tenders following observations by the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench. After revising tenders and restricting permissible locations for sky-signs on civic properties, the corporation is estimated to have lost over Rs 5 crore in potential income from licence fees and land rentals.Officials maintained that maintaining the existing rates is financially unsustainable, particularly as the civic body seeks to increase revenue and fund infrastructure projects. The revised fee structure has therefore been proposed to strengthen municipal finances in the upcoming financial year.In addition to the fee revision, the standing committee will consider several development works, including cement road projects across multiple zones and approval of fresh tenders. However, the proposed hike in outdoor advertisement licence fees is expected to be a key agenda item at Tuesday’s meeting.OTHER KEY AGENDA ITEMS BEFORE STANDING COMMITTEERoad projects across zones• Cement road from Sejal Motors to Bazar Chowk in Gopal Nagar (Zone 8) – proposal worth around Rs 34.8 lakh after tender finalisation.• Cement concrete roads in Kasturba Nagar (Zone 10) – administrative approval sought for a project worth Rs 1.49 crore.• CC road in Adivasi Society area under Dharampeth zone – lowest bid of about Rs 35.3 lakh to be approved.• CC road work near Dayanand School in Jaripatka – proposal of around Rs 49.9 lakh to be cleared.Major urban infrastructure project• Development of “Healthy Streets” in Shankar Nagar and Dharampeth area to be taken up at a cost of over Rs 25 crore after approval of the lowest bidder.Staffing proposal• Extension of services of three retired deputy engineers working on contract in the project department for another six months. Estimated expenditure: about Rs 14.5 lakh.
