Haryana amends municipal advertisement bye-laws, tightens rules for outdoor ads

Officials said the amendments redefine key terms to remove ambiguity, including a clearer definition of Outdoor Media Devices (OMDs) and the introduction of “clusters of OMDs” for auction purposes.

Published on: Dec 21, 2025, 03:40:04 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The Haryana government has amended the Haryana Municipal Advertisement Bye-laws, 2022, introducing stricter norms for outdoor advertising to improve road safety, urban aesthetics and transparency in municipal revenue. The Haryana Municipal Advertisement (Amendment) Bye-laws, 2025, were notified on December 18, 2025, strengthening the regulatory framework for advertisements across urban local bodies in the state.

Urban local body officials said the changes seek to balance revenue generation with public safety and visual order. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Officials said the amendments redefine key terms to remove ambiguity, including a clearer definition of Outdoor Media Devices (OMDs) and the introduction of “clusters of OMDs” for auction purposes. Municipalities will now specify reserve prices in line with government guidelines to prevent underpricing and revenue leakage. “The changes also introduce stricter eligibility norms, allowing only registered entities with a minimum six months’ validity in their registration to participate in auctions, ensuring greater accountability among advertisers,” said Arun Kumar Gupta, additional chief secretary to the Government of Haryana, Urban Local Bodies Department.

A significant push towards digitisation has been introduced. Municipalities must now communicate approval or rejection of applications online within 30 days and list approved advertisement sites on an online portal within three days for auction. An earnest money deposit of 10% of the reserve price has been made mandatory, with forfeiture provisions if a successful bidder withdraws.

The auction process has also been tightened, with a requirement of at least three unique bidders for scheduling an auction. Auctions with fewer bidders can be held only after repeated failed attempts. The bye-laws empower municipalities to immediately remove unauthorised advertisements and their structures and dispose of them on an “as-is, where-is” basis.

The amendments prescribe detailed spacing and location norms for advertisements along national highways, state highways and major urban roads. “Advertisements are barred within the right of way and near traffic intersections, and strict spacing norms have been prescribed,” Gupta said, adding that the rules aim to address long-standing issues in cities such as Gurugram.

Digital advertisements, including LED, LCD and 3D screens, have been restricted to select public spaces and market areas, barred from facing moving traffic, and limited to static displays synchronised with traffic signals.

Urban local body officials said the changes seek to balance revenue generation with public safety and visual order.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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