Blue Dreamz highest bidder for 3 hoarding clusters in Kolkata, Arun Sign top bidder for 1 cluster

Blue Dreamz Advertising has emerged as the highest bidder for three roadside hoarding clusters in Kolkata after Kolkata Municipal Corporation opened the tenders for first four clusters on May 20. Arun Sign Services is the highest bidder for the fourth cluster. As things stand, the contracts are likely to be awarded to the highest bidders. Each cluster contains 50 hoardings from different zones of the city and KMC will get Rs 3.70 crore from each cluster.

Commenting on the significance of this tender, Debasish Kumar - Member, Mayor-in-Council - Advertisement, Parks Gardens and Sports - The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, said: "Last year from these four clusters we earned revenues of Rs 7.32 crore. In this tender the bidding has doubled to Rs 14.80 crore which is more than a 100% increase.”

"Our aim was to increase revenue generation through a transparent platform which we have done by opening a clear tender policy for the city of Kolkata. After the declaration of result of all the clusters we will sit with the media owners and look for an advanced way to beautify Kolkata.”

Ashif Kumar Biswas, Director - Arun Sign Services Pvt. Ltd. who topped the bid for the fourth cluster said: "Among the eight clusters we have pitched for the best one as it comprises a high number of sites located on Park Street, Camac Street, Theatre Road and in the CCFC region. With this tender a new chapter has started in the outdoor industry for Kolkata. Previously there were 33 players who had the hoarding rights of the city but now we have formed a consortium and on the basis of which this entire roadside footpath hoarding sites will be handled by only four agencies. The four players are Arun Sign, Blue Dreamz, Sampark and View Finder - a wing of Karukrit. We have jointly quoted and I feel that the industry will become more organised after this.”

In the coming three days the result of last four cluster of permanent road side hoardings will be declared along with the rights of road side pole kiosks. The tenure of these rights is for three years which is subject to renewal.