South Karnataka cracks down on illegal roadside ads

Responding to public concerns, the Public Works Department (PWD) in south Karnataka has launched a campaign to remove unauthorized advertisements from state highways and district roads. This initiative follows numerous complaints about the safety hazards these signs pose.

On May 18th, PWD's chief engineer for the south zone, Duragappa K, directed officials to identify and take down illegal advertisements. The crackdown will target districts including Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and several others under the PWD's southern jurisdiction.

The move comes after Bengaluru's municipal body, BBMP, banned advertising displays. This led to a surge in unauthorized advertisements on roads surrounding the city. Public complaints allege that these signs distract drivers and contribute to accidents. To address these concerns, the PWD has taken decisive action to improve road safety by eliminating all unauthorized advertisements.