With Maharashtra's state elections approaching in less than two months, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a draft outdoor advertising policy which carries specific guidelines for political banners and hoardings during the election period.
The new OOH policy outlines several key restrictions and guidelines to regulate the displaying of election-related materials in Mumbai. Firstly, public properties such as playgrounds, parks, and government-owned vehicles are off-limits for political advertisements when the model code of conduct (MCC) is in place for the Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha or Corporation Elections.
The use of these spaces for displaying flags, banners, and hoardings is prohibited, and state transport buses cannot be used for political promotions.
Political party flags and banners are also limited to private residences and vehicles. Each residence can display up to three flags of a single party or candidate, with no more than one flag per party or candidate allowed on any vehicle.
Vehicles can carry only one flag of a maximum size of 1 ft. x ½ ft. with a pole no longer than 3 ft. No banners are allowed on vehicles, but road shows can feature a banner of up to 6 ft. x 4 ft. carried by hand. Furthermore, vehicles are restricted from using spotlights, flashing lights, or hooters.
Regarding private properties, flags and banners can be displayed with the occupant's permission, and commercial vehicles are restricted from displaying election material unless used directly for campaign purposes. Temporary campaign offices must not be established on encroached properties or near religious places, hospitals, or educational institutions, and must be located at least 200 meters from any polling station. These offices can display only one party flag or banner, with a maximum size of 4 ft. x 8 ft., subject to local regulations.
Candidates and parties are allowed to use hoardings for their advertisements, provided these hoardings are not on public properties like municipal or government lands, or facilities managed by public bodies such as MHADA, Railway Authority, or BEST Undertaking.
No banners are permitted on vehicles, but banners for the political roadshow are allowed under strict size restrictions. All vehicle advertisements must comply with the Motor Vehicle Act and require RTO permission, with Election Officers overseeing compliance.
The policy also prohibits the display of political advertisements on public structures such as bus shelters, ADP pillars, and electric poles. Permits granted under these guidelines will require payment of advertisement fees as per the prescribed rates. Non-compliance will result in penalties under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, and relevant sections of the BMC Act.
Giving some breather to political parties, BMC has permitted them to display a non-illuminated banner/board on their party offices located in private premises and no permission is required to display such advertisement. They will also be permitted to do so on pandals for religious festivals.
The policy, which was released recently and is open for public suggestions and objections until August 28, will oversee all outdoor advertising approvals, including digital formats, for 10 years after approval.
Salient features
1. Displaying election material/banners/ flags/hoardings prohibited on school grounds, public property, maidan/parks/playground on an equitable basis, state transport buses/government-owned vehicles.
2. Even at private residence/vehicle, maximum 3 flags of a party/candidate to be displayed. If someone wants to display flags of more than one party or candidate, it should be restricted to only one flag of each party/candidate.
3. On vehicles, one flag of maximum size of 1 ft. X ½ ft. with a pole/stick of not more than 3 ft., allowed.
4. No banner allowed on any vehicle. During the roadshow, a banner of the maximum size of 6 ft. X 4 ft. allowed to be carried out with hand.
5. 1 or 2 small stickers of appropriate size permitted on a vehicle.
6. No spot focus /flashing/searchlight /hooter allowed on a vehicle.
7. Flag/banners can be put up in private premises with voluntary permission of the occupant.
8. Where specific state /local law exists, provisions of the same will be applied.
9. On private vehicles, flags and stickers can be put by the owner in the manner, they do not cause any inconvenience to other road users.
10. On commercial vehicles, display of election material is not permitted, unless the vehicle is validly being used for election campaigns.
11. Political party/ candidate shall pay the scheduled charges i.e. advertisement fees and security deposit to occupants at prevailing rate.
12. Party/candidate shall remove the permitted display object after expiry of such permit.
13. Candidates and political parties can display ads pertaining to the elections by hiring the hoardings which are duly permitted by BMC in private premises. However, such type of display by the candidates or political parties shall not be permitted on the hoardings which are erected on public properties like the Municipal or Government land belonging to the Collector, MHADA, Railway Authority, PWD, MSRDC, Airport Authority, BEST Undertaking and any other public body.
14. Non-compliance of these directions by any individual candidate or political party shall be liable for action under the provisions of Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995 and Section 328/328A read with section 471 of the BMC Act, 1888; BNS 2024 and BNSS 2024.
Temporary campaign office of political parties/candidates:
• Not to be setup in an encroached property
• Not to be opened in a religious place
• Not to be in a place contiguous to any hospital/educational institution
• Not to be within 200 meters of an existing polling station
• Only one-party flag/banner with party symbol/photograph to be displayed at such office
• Size of banner shall not exceed 4 ft X 8 ft subject to condition of local laws.
• Expenditure observer to monitor and book expenditure in the account of the candidate.
