Thursday, May 6, 2010

Tussle between Delhi Metro and MCD Made Advertisement Firms Worry

The stand-off between MCD and Delhi Metro over sharing of advertisement revenue has taken a twist. Ahead of tendering for the booking of advertising spaces on two new Metro routes Inderlok to Mundka and Qutub to Gurgaon the association of outdoor advertisers has demanded that they be told about the legal position of the advertisements.

According to Mukesh Gupta, general secretary of the Delhi Outdoor Advertisers’ Association, their clients get notices from the civic body for advertising on DMRC structures, if an advertisement is not approved by a designated MCD official. ‘‘Why should we suffer? We book space through proper tendering and payments,” said Gupta. MCD had recently issued notices to companies whose unauthorized displays were found on display on DMRC structures for payment of charges to the tune of Rs 18.5 crore.

While DMRC maintains that it can use its premises for advertisement purposes, the MCD says otherwise. ‘‘The contention of DMRC is factually incorrect in the sense that land under DMRC possession belongs to MCD,” claimed a senior MCD official. When contacted, a DMRC spokesperson said actions taken are as per law.

The MCD has also issued warnings to all oil companies over unauthorized displays on the premises of petrol pumps and CNG stations.

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