Kolkata Declares 12 Hoarding Free Zones: KMC’s Bold Step to Beautify Cityscape

Hoarding Free Zones — In a major step towards transforming Kolkata’s visual landscape and enhancing safety and heritage preservation, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has officially declared 12 prominent locations across the city as no-hoarding, no-advertisement zones. This move aligns with KMC’s broader policy to regulate outdoor advertising and reclaim civic spaces from visual congestion.

Hoarding Free Zones: Key Locations Under the Ban

The KMC’s directive prohibits all forms of commercial hoardings, banners, and billboards within a 50-meter radius of the following high-traffic junctions and iconic zones:

1. Gariahat
2. Ballygunge Phari
3. Park Circus Seven-Point Crossing
4. Moulali
5. Rajabazar
6. Ultadanga
7. Shyambazar Five-Point Crossing
8. Hazra
9. Exide Crossing
10. Golpark
11. Taratala
12. Rashbehari

These zones will be monitored by civic enforcement units to ensure compliance.

Zones of Cultural & Environmental Sensitivity

Apart from traffic-heavy intersections, advertising restrictions will also apply to:

• Heritage Zones – No ads within 25 meters of archaeological or architecturally significant buildings.
• Religious Structures – No banners within 10 meters of places of worship.
• Green Spaces – Parks such as Subhas Sarobar, Rabindra Sarobar, and the Maidan are protected as zero-hoarding zones.
• Eco-Sensitive Corridors – Including East Kolkata Wetlands and stretches like Biswa Bangla Sarani.

Additionally, the stretch between Kolkata Airport and Nabanna via VIP Road, AJC Bose Road, and the Maa Flyover has been designated hoarding-free to preserve skyline continuity and road visibility.

Policy Changes & Advertising Guidelines

KMC’s updated advertising policy includes:

• Mandatory tender-based allotment for new advertisement spaces.
• Strict design standards: Maximum hoarding height capped at 22 feet.
• Hoardings must not block sunlight, ventilation, or traffic signals.
• No installation on median strips or pedestrian zones.
• Tree trimming for hoarding visibility is strictly prohibited unless cleared by the Parks Department.

Festival Relaxations with Rules

Temporary exceptions for Durga Puja and Kali Puja are permitted:

• Durga Puja: Ads allowed from 7 days before Mahalaya to 7 days after Dashami.
• Kali Puja: Banners allowed 3 days before and after the festival.

All such banners must:

• Mention the organizing committee clearly.
• Avoid interfering with public infrastructure or natural spaces.
• Be dismantled immediately after the permitted period.

Visual Clean-Up & Public Safety

The KMC cites multiple objectives behind this initiative:

• Reduce driver distractions caused by oversized billboards.
• Preserve Kolkata’s architectural and ecological heritage.
• Open up sightlines at busy crossings and arterial roads.
• Promote planned, aesthetic advertising through LED-based monopoles instead of unregulated boards.

Mayor Firhad Hakim emphasized the importance of creating a visually clean, well-managed city that respects its historical legacy while adapting to modern civic needs.

Enforcement Mechanism

To implement this directive, KMC has mobilized the following measures:

• Enforcement teams under each borough will conduct routine checks.
• Advertisers have been issued notices to remove non-compliant displays.
• Public complaints regarding illegal hoardings can be reported to KMC’s helpline and mobile app.
• A dedicated civic monitoring cell will supervise sensitive zones and issue removal orders.

Road Ahead: What Citizens Should Know

• Business owners must consult with the KMC Advertisement Department before installing any signage.
• Citizens can expect cleaner intersections and improved road visibility.
• Real estate developers, puja organizers, and private advertisers must obtain prior clearance for temporary or festive advertisements.

Conclusion

Kolkata’s crackdown on hoardings in its busiest and most iconic areas is a bold step toward improving its visual environment, easing traffic congestion, and respecting its cultural legacy. With proper enforcement and public cooperation, this initiative may set a new standard for urban signage control in Indian cities.

Official External Resources

• Kolkata Municipal Corporation – Advertisement Guidelines
• Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Department, West Bengal
• Kolkata Police – Traffic Notices and Alerts
• Archaeological Survey of India – Protected Monuments Rules
• KMC Parks and Squares Department

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