Patna: The Patna Municipal Board on Friday approved the draft Patna Municipal Corporation Advertisement (Amendment) Regulations 2025, seeking to overhaul the city’s outdoor advertising framework and stem mounting revenue losses.
The fourth special meeting of the council was held at Hotel Maurya under the chairpersonship of the mayor, Sita Sahu. The draft regulations were discussed in the light of the Bihar Municipal Area Advertisement Rules 2023 and the amended rules of 2025 before being passed with suggested modifications.
Board members unanimously called for the new regulations to be implemented from the next financial year. According to officials, the municipal corporation has not collected advertisement fees since 2014, leading to estimated annual losses of Rs 70 crore to Rs 120 crore. The cumulative loss is estimated at between Rs 840 crore and Rs 1,440 crore.
Twenty-two cases relating to advertising and hoardings are currently pending in court.
Several councillors criticised the empowered standing committee, alleging it had failed to adequately discharge its responsibilities while drafting the regulations. Objections had earlier been raised during the council’s 10th general meeting on February 7, prompting the convening of the special session.
Vinay Kumar Pappu, a councillor, described illegal advertisements as a means of self-promotion by public representatives and demanded a 20-year revenue white paper. He also called for an investigation into advertising agencies, recovery of outstanding dues, removal of illegal hoardings and strict action against those responsible. Satish Gupta, another councillor, sought stringent recovery measures against habitual defaulters.
Vinod Kumar, a member of the empowered standing committee, said rates should also be fixed for advertisements displayed on public properties. Indradeep Kumar Chandravanshi called for scrutiny of advertisements placed on police and traffic outposts. The deputy mayor, Reshmi Kumari, was present at the meeting.
Under the proposed framework, zones have been designated for advertisements on main arterial roads and other classified roads within the corporation limits. The registration fee has been fixed at Rs 1,50,000 for three years, with a renewal fee of Rs 60,000. Agencies will be selected through e-tendering, and violations may attract penalties of up to 200%.
Proposals put forward by councillor Dr Ashish Kumar Sinha include physical verification of zones, creation of sub-zones and fixing a minimum advertising rate of Rs 50 per square foot for public and private properties. He emphasised the need to incorporate provisions of the 2023 rules rather than rely on earlier 2007 regulations, and called for clear penalty clauses.
Adopting what officials described as a “railway model”, the corporation plans to levy a 25% fee on advertisements displayed in metro and airport premises. At present, it receives 25% of the revenue from advertisements at railway stations within its jurisdiction.
Municipal commissioner Yashpal Meena said all suggestions received during the meeting would be incorporated into the draft regulations. A final copy would be circulated to members within 10 days before being sent to the state government for approval.
