Cabinet nod for Karnataka Open Places Amendment Bill 2020 poses greater challenge to Bangalore OOH

The Cabinet of Karnataka Government has approved the Karnataka Open Places Amendment Bill 2020 (Prevention of Disfigurement) which says that unauthorised flexes, banners or hoardings anywhere in the state will invite a penalty or a jail term to persons responsible for deploying them. Currently, the bill is applicable within the BBMP limits, Belagavi and Mysuru but with the nod from the Cabinet, the government plans to extend its scope to cover the entire state including areas under the panchayats.

According to OOH industry experts, this development will pose insurmountable challenge to the business. As such, civic authorities are dis-interested in permitting site installations due to absence of advertisement tax.

Additionally, due to the huge chaos going on in the Bangalore market, the Urban Development Ministry has announced the formulation of the OOH policy which will be implemented in the entire state. Regional media owners believe this might further hit the regional OOH business.