Maharashtra Drafts New Hoarding Policy To Boost Revenue And Regulate Use Of Government Land

The Maharashtra government is in the process of formulating a new policy for installing advertising hoardings on vacant government lands across the state. The policy aims to boost state revenue and provide clear guidelines for District Collectors to manage such installations effectively.

A detailed presentation regarding this policy was made to Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Minister of State Yogesh Kadam by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Rajesh Kumar and senior revenue officials.

Minister Bawankule directed that the policy should take into account the needs and circumstances of all districts. He emphasized that the policy must be transparent, protect local interests, and promote revenue growth. Key aspects of the proposed policy include:

Agencies seeking hoarding contracts must be registered with the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR).

They must have a minimum of three years of experience in the advertising field.

The owner of the bidding agency must be a resident of Maharashtra to encourage local entrepreneurship.

The entire process will be conducted under the supervision of the Revenue Department to ensure administrative transparency and efficiency.

Guidelines are also being finalised for district-level implementation. District Collectors will identify suitable government lands for hoardings and carry out e-auction processes, clearly specifying the land area and hoarding size. Winning bidders will be required to offer at least seven days per quarter of free hoarding space for government advertisements.

The lease contract will end upon completion of the lease term, and no extensions will be granted under any circumstances. If extended due to a court stay, double the standard fee will be charged. Additionally, District Collectors must complete the next e-auction process six months before the current lease ends.

Before installing hoardings, lessees must obtain permissions from the planning authority, District Collector, and other relevant bodies. All information regarding authorised, expired, or cancelled hoardings must be submitted by District Collectors to the state government on a monthly basis.

An annual license fee will also be applicable for advertising hoardings, as specified in the upcoming policy.