After a decade of tussle, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has agreed to share its outdoor advertisement revenue with the municipal corporations. The DMRC will now share 25% of its income, which comes to roughly Rs. 22 crore.
Recently, the DMRC had agreed to pay service charges in lieu of property tax but that did not amount to much.
According to officials, a huge part of the Delhi Metro stations and pillars are built on municipal land. The agency uses these structures to put up panels and earn revenue through advertisements but does not share the income with the land owner.
"The total advertisement revenue earned by the DMRC from advertisement is more than Rs. 120 crore, out of which outdoor advertisement revenue is Rs. 88 crore. Since they have agreed to share 25 per cent with us, we will get Rs. 22 crore," said a senior official.
However, the DMRC has turned down the demand that it take the agency's permission before letting out its stations and pillar space for advertisement.
MCD officials felt that it was necessary to check the structural safety of the structures. The DMRC said they can do their own safety check.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Development Authority released Rs. 120 crore to south corporation after the latter attached its bank account following non-payment of property tax dues.