Vijayawada: In a bid to enhance the beautification of the city and ensure that its walls remain free of posters, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has initiated measures to make Vijayawada a poster-free city.
Under the Prevention of Disfigurement of Open Places and Prohibition of Obscene and Objectionable Posters and Advertisement Act, 1997 (Act 28 of 1997), the civic body will crack down on illegal posters, flex banners, and various other advertising materials that disfigure city walls.
Vijayawada was declared a poster-free city by the municipal corporation in 2018 to check advertising firms and individuals from illegally sticking posters and flex banners on the city walls. In this regard, the civic body began the adorning city walls with beautiful murals to discourage people from pasting posters. However, with the officials turning a blind eye and going easy on violators, posters and advertisement materials were again pasted on the city walls.
According to VMC, sticking of posters and flex banners on private properties, public places, traffic dividers/islands, electric poles, flyovers, and bridges, is prohibited in order to safeguard public health and the environment.
VMC chief city planner Sanjay Rathna Kumar instructed the concerned officials to impose a fine of Rs 1 lakh on printing press owners and individuals who illegally put posters and flex banners on the city walls, thus violating the norms. He also stated that strict action, including criminal cases, will be taken against violators.
