Bhubaneswar: Ever since Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) found no claimant to almost 320 ad hoardings put up at different locations across the city, it has sold off retrieved iron frames in excess of 10,000 kg after removing those.The civic body, which has engaged a private party to remove the unclaimed hoardings, earn Rs 16 per kg by selling off the iron retrieved from the ad frames as scrap. It is the private agency’s onus to cut, declutter and reduce them into smaller pieces for resale. BMC doesn’t use its resources to remove them, officials said.BMC deputy commissioner Ajay Mohanty said of 320 ad hoardings declared illegal, more than 100 have been removed from which 10 tonne of scrap iron has been extracted. “We had given ultimatum to the advertisers to remove the hoardings but none came forward to renew the contract and claim the hoardings. Some of the hoardings are structurally unsafe as they are no more maintained and have to be removed,” Mohanty said.BMC issued an ultimatum to private advertisers to remove around 800 hoardings, thus threatening to withdraw empanelment for not renewing the contract after a lapse of three years. Thereafter, around 500 hoardings were claimed, while the rest were declared illegal. Empanelment of ad agencies with BMC had expired on Dec 12, 2025, revealed BMC officials.Mohanty said most of such illegal hoardings are found put up on private plots. The ones set up on govt land for which BMC charge advertisement licence fee, are not illegal.In Feb, the exposed iron structure of a hoarding had collapsed on two persons, killing them instantly. Reacting swiftly to the hoarding menace, BMC then identified several dangerously installed hoardings. “The unclaimed hoardings not only pose danger to commuters but are an eyesore. BMC should expedite their removal to restore the city’s aesthetic beauty and ensure safety of people,” said a resident, Priyabrata Sahani.BMC sources said winds of more than 60 kmph in speed can blow away lightweight posters, banners, hoardings, and kiosks, causing injury to people besides obstructing roads and drains. The exercise would also help reduce restoration work post-heavy rain and wind, officials said.
