Advertisement through digital billboards picking up in Jammu

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 17

A new trend of advertisement display is picking up in the city. Digital billboards are slowly pushing the traditional technique and style to advertise products behind.

Several traders have installed these displays in the city. The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), which installed a huge screen at Bikram Chowk a few years ago, now put up another one at Gole Market, Gandhi Nagar.

An LED billboard is a huge TV that displays moving advertisements allowing several brands to use the medium to reach people.

“Given the quantum of the hoardings in Jammu, these electronic displays are important to ensure that city is made free of illegal hoardings. We have seen such things in big metros only,” said Megha Gupta, a university student.

However, these billboards are not used entirely for commercial purposes, but important social messages by the Health Department, PHE and other government agencies are broadcast using this medium.

“Whenever we stop at the traffic signal at Bikram Chowk, our eyes look for the messages on the digital display. There are several flashes of message. This is a new thing in our city which can be utilised for public purpose,” said Anil Sharma, a private company employee.

In recent years, unauthorised hoardings, sign boards and advertisement portals have virtually covered every nook and corner of the city. Even the roads have not escaped these advertisements sidelining the traffic rules as the visual impediments and distractions created by them could cause accidents.

“Make a round of any part of the city and you will realise that advertisements, hoardings and posters have been fixed on virtually every available space. This has given the city a very ugly look,” said Ankush Abrol, a resident of Gandhi Nagar.