Patna: The Bihar government has launched a statewide crackdown on illegal hoardings and banners, with Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha warning that advertisers responsible for unauthorised displays will face strict legal action.
He said the Urban Development and Housing Department is preparing to treat those putting up illegal hoardings as economic offenders responsible for revenue loss to the state. According to him, organised groups have formed syndicates in several cities to install unauthorised advertisements while avoiding official fees. He also alleged that some advertisers approach the courts citing livelihood concerns when enforcement actions begin.
Officials say more than 11,000 illegal hoardings have been targeted across 264 urban local bodies in Bihar’s 38 districts, following directives issued during a departmental review meeting last month. Nearly Rs 20 lakh in penalties has been recovered so far as part of the campaign.
In Bhagalpur, the municipal corporation has registered FIRs against 10 establishments linked to illegal hoardings and recovered penalties exceeding Rs 19 lakh. Enforcement teams in Darbhanga have removed several unauthorised hoardings and seized related materials, while authorities in Muzaffarpur dismantled around 55 illegal hoardings. In Begusarai, seven hoardings were removed and notices were issued to 71 others.
Action has also intensified in the state capital. The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken action against more than 200 illegal hoardings, while notices have been served for the removal of over 250 additional structures. The highest number of removals was recorded in the Patliputra zone, where 59 hoardings were dismantled, while the Kankarbagh zone saw the highest number of notices issued.
Municipal authorities say the campaign is being carried out across all six zones of Patna to improve city aesthetics, traffic movement and public safety. Officials are conducting surveys at identified locations and removing unauthorised unipoles and billboards through a structured process.
The crackdown also includes hoardings placed without permission on private buildings, rooftops and boundary walls. Property owners and advertising agencies have been issued notices, and those with pending dues have been directed to clear them immediately.
In crowded areas of the city, enforcement teams have also begun night operations to dismantle hoardings to minimise disruption during peak traffic hours.
The municipal corporation has simultaneously initiated revenue recovery from advertising agencies. According to officials, 54 agencies currently have outstanding payments to the corporation, with total dues estimated at Rs 107.12 crore. Authorities have warned that agencies failing to clear their dues could face legal action under the Public Demand Recovery (PDR) Act, along with possible blacklisting.
