NHAI flags risks from ‘distracting’ hoardings on arterial roads to MCD

Are outdoor advertisements along Delhi's arterial roads a safety hazard or merely visual clutter?

- Paras Singh

Even as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) plans to permit more forms of advertisements on flyovers and underpasses, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI has flagged existing unipoles and hoardings installed by the civic body along national highways as a risk to commuter safety.The highways authority has argued that these advertisements are distracting and violate Union road transport ministry guidelines, which prohibit hoardings along national highways. However, the civic body's response has been limited, prompting repeated intervention by the NHAI.

An official aware of the matter said the issue has been raised since last year and was again brought to the attention of the Delhi government and the MCD in a joint meeting earlier this month.