Illegal advertisements adorn police beat boxes, barricades

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, August 14

The display of advertisements on police beat boxes and barricades in the town has been going on for years in violation of the norms. However, the civic body seems to have turned a blind eye to the practice. 

During a visit, it was found that at many key crossings in Zirakpur and Dera Bassi, Gupta Builders and Promoters (GBP) have put up their advertisements on barricades of the traffic police and atop beat boxes.

Sources in the local administration said it was not a designated site to put advertisements and the authorities had clearly not drawn any revenue for it. A major concern over the issue arises from the fact that there are certain medians in the town having barricades with advertisements displaying GBP signage so that they catch the fancy of commuters every time they pass by it. As per the advertisement policy, no company can display advertisements without permission from the MC.

On the other hand, MC officials confirmed that no permission was given to the firm to display advertisements atop beat boxes in the town, clearly adding that it was in violation of the advertisement policy.

According to sources, a number of barricades of the traffic police in the towns carry advertisements without seeking  permission or payment of fee to the authorities concerned. 

While the MC officials want the police to pull down such advertisements, traffic police officials have instead termed it the duty of the MC.

The traffic police in-charge of Dera Bassi claimed that the violation fell in the ambit of the MC and they could pull it down if they felt that there was an evasion of any tax.

Satish Gupta, chairman and managing director, Gupta Builders and Promoters Pvt Ltd, when asked if they had sought any permission from the MC for displaying advertisements on barricades and atop beat boxes, he said he would ask his team and revert back. But after few minutes, his phone was switched off.

Bhupinder Saini, president of the local municpial council, said, “Any advertisement displayed in this way is not allowed.” He admitted  that according to the law, advertisements on traffic barricades and beat boxes in the town were not permitted and the realty firm had sought no permission from the civic body to put these advertisements. 

Civic body caught napping 

• While the MC officials want the police to pull down such advertisements, traffic police officials have instead termed it the duty of the MC.
• The traffic police in-charge of Dera Bassi claimed that the violation fell in the ambit of the MC and they could pull it down if they felt that there was an evasion of any tax.
• Bhupinder  Saini, president of the local municpial council, said, “Any advertisement displayed in this way is not allowed.”
• He admitted  that the realty firm had sought no permission from the civic body to put these advertisements.