The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) is exploring new ways to fill its coffers. After targeting malls and shopping complexes, the Municipal Corporation has issued notices to liquor vends in the city, asking outlet owners to pay up for putting up billboards or advertisements of liquor brands in their premises.
Ramesh Khurana, a vendor, said he had asked his staff to reduce the size of billboards after receiving notices from the MCG. "Otherwise we would be left with no option but to pay from our pockets. We can transfer the burden on to the customers but it will adversely affect our business," he said.
The MCG has fixed monthly rate of R100 per sqft for advertisements. However, the civic body's move triggered a salutary change: vendors have started removing huge advertisements after receiving the notices.
"As those advertising on lampposts and signboards are paying us as per the agreed upon rates. Now, we have asked the vendors to pay if they put up any advertisements. We have already issued notices to such liquor vends," said MCG commissioner Sudhir Rajpal.
MCG officials said they had issued notices to IMFL liquor vends on the Gurgaon expressway and MG Road. The city has 164 IMFL liquor vends.
{{/usCountry}}MCG officials said they had issued notices to IMFL liquor vends on the Gurgaon expressway and MG Road. The city has 164 IMFL liquor vends.
{{/usCountry}}BS Singroha, the chief engineer, the MCG, said the civic body was expecting to raise revenue of about R2 crore from these vends.
“After we served notices, some of the shop owners have either started removing the large billboards or have reduced the size of ads," he added.