Autos, cabs displaying ads to invite transport dept action

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

The department of transport has decided to crackdown on auto and cab drivers who display advertisements on their vehicles. Officials have said that there has been a significant increase in the display of unauthorised advertisements and the issue was also brought in the state assembly. In Bengaluru, to feature advertisements on their vehicles, the owners must take prior permission from the transport department as these advertisements have the potential to distract motorists and cause accidents.

However, there are many states that allow vehicles to have advertisements and collect taxes in this regard. Kerala cab owners, for example, must take prior permission from the regional transport offices and have to pay Rs 20 for 10 sq cm for a year. Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association President Tanveer Pasha said the new rule is not fair as the government allows BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses to carry advertisements.

“There are so many private and government advertisements on the sidelines and backs of the buses. If the rules are being implemented, the government departments must abide by it too,” he said.

The money made from these advertisements act as a passive income for cab and auto drivers. An advertisement on the external door of a cab costs around Rs 5,000 a month, considering the size. However, many of them say companies often give out tenders and the contract authority does not pay them the stipulated amount.

“There is also no assurance from the companies that market through us. They just put up the stickers and tell us to visit their office to collect Rs 2,500 each month, there is no guarantee of when they will change their minds,” Tanveer said.

An auto driver waiting on Cunnigham Road said, “I have had to pay them to put up an advertisement on my auto and did not get anything in return. If the driver is lucky enough to find a reliable company, it is a great source of passive income.”

The High Court in 2018 banned the display of outdoor advertisements, leading to a reduction on hoardings and banners. The companies switched to marketing their products through public transport and private taxis, by using the exterior of the vehicles, following the order. The transport department officials have said that they will also be taking action against vehicles making other violations, such as demanding excess fare and ferrying extra passengers.