MCD all set to bare malls of advertisement cover

Larger than life advertorial wall wraps have been synonymous with malls around the world. But Delhi just had a change of heart, reports Neelam Pandey.

Larger than life advertorial wall wraps have been synonymous with malls around the world. But Delhi just had a change of heart.

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The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to ban advertisements on malls and commercial structures across the city claiming they add to visual clutter and hence can be a major traffic hazard.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) set up by the Supreme Court has recommended to MCD that building wraps or large format building wraps should not be permitted in the city.

If given a green signal by the Supreme Court, which will take a decision soon, malls owners will have to remove the advertisements from the buildings.

“Earlier, we had allowed malls and commercial centres to display advertisements on the structures. But it was strictly for commercial areas,” said a senior MCD official requesting anonymity. “Later on, another 200 odd roads were declared commercial and all the advertisements resulted in a visual clutter.”

The official said the clutter became a traffic hazard since these malls and commercial centres are visible from the roads.

“We endorse EPCA’s suggestions and are not going to challenge it,” the official said.

But many Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the city said the MCD was ignoring its basic civic duties and going after softer targets.

“Isn’t unauthorised construction creating a visual clutter too? They also pose a serious threat to so many lives. It has become MCD's habit to concentrate on minor issues," said V.K. Arora, an RWA member of East Delhi’s Kiran Vihar.