Bhubaneshwar civic body seeking clarity on GST applicability on OOH advertising

The civic body is also taking strong steps to curb unauthorised media while efforts are underway to fast-track city beautification projects

The Bhubaneshwar Municipal Corporation is facing a big trouble due to non-clear matter on GST tax. The municipal corporation approached Government of India seeking clarity on how the tax should be charged on OOH advertising. Talking exclusively with Media4Growth, Alok Kar, Additional Commissioner said, “We don’t have a fair idea how and what kind of taxes should be charged on media owners. Last year we earned Rs. 15.8 crore from advertising revenue however we are facing issues as we are not yet clear and losing out revenue due to the same”. The corporation is scouting for a favourable solution and has initiated dialogues with various registered media vendors and other agencies to finalise the taxing on the outdoor hoardings.

Apart from this, the authority is working towards the safety and beautification of the city by following proper guidelines and measures on outdoor advertising. The corporation has a team in place to keep an eye on unregulated sites that pose a hazard to moving traffic and pedestrians.

The civic body is also planning for digital outdoor displays at 3-4 locations but in the absence of proper rules governing the same, the municipal corporation is unable to fast-track the project.