Advertisements to Return on Namma Metro Pillars as BMRCL Eyes Revenue Boost

Quick Summary

• Return of Metro Pillar Advertisements: After a seven-year gap, BMRCL will reintroduce advertisements on Namma Metro pillars and portals across Bengaluru, following new advertisement by-laws.
• New Bye-Laws Clarity: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), now Greater Bengaluru Authority, issued the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Advertisement) Bye-Laws, 2024. These grant BMRCL rights to display ads on metro infrastructure while sharing revenue with BBMP for visible ads from approved zones.
• Revenue Implications: Before the 2018 citywide ban on outdoor advertising due to visual pollution concerns, BMRCL earned ₹10 crore annually from pillar advertisements. Officials estimate potential new earnings of ₹60-₹80 crore yearly.
• Ongoing Non-Fare Revenue Efforts:

– Full-body advertisement wraps introduced in June 2025 have already added ample revenue.
– Additional income stems from retail outlets, ATMs, parking spaces, film shoots at stations/trains (resumed in 2023), optical fiber cables leasing, and partnerships such as a ₹251-crore agreement with IKEA for land near Nagasandra station.

• Metro Expansion Impact: By 2029, the metro network is expected to span over 220 km-expanding structures available for advertisements and further increasing non-fare revenue.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The resumption of advertising on metro pillars signals a pragmatic approach by BMRCL to bolster non-fare revenue streams amid growing operational expenditures. With fare revenues contributing most significantly thus far-₹573.91 crore in FY23-24 compared to only ₹50.05 crore from property-related sources-the move highlights the urgent need for diversification.

Furthermore, integrating ad income potential with planned metro expansions ensures a long-term strategy aligned with urban growth trajectories. Though, balancing these initiatives against concerns of urban aesthetics and public sentiment around visual pollution remains critical for sustained viability.The stipulated revenue-sharing clause between BBMP and BMRCL indicates cooperative governance but may require careful monitoring to avoid future disputes over jurisdiction or allocation fairness.

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