Pimpri: There has been an increase in the income of the Sky Sign Licensing Department of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. In the financial year 2021-22, the Sky Licensing Department has collected revenue of Rs 12 crore 58 lakh. Outstanding and fine have been recovered only from the old licensees without issuance of any new licenses. This is the highest income received by this department in the last ten years.
Advertisement is given by putting up hoardings in different parts of the city. For this, the Sky Sign Licensing Department is working and it is a source of income for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Some advertisers and private landlords make money by putting up multiple billboards on the same hoarding license. This spoils the beauty of the city and also sinks the revenue of the Municipal Corporation. Some did not pay the license fee and some did not pay the rent of the land. As a result, revenue is reduced.
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Highest figure of income in last ten years
However, this year the department has taken action against those who put up unauthorized flex and hoardings and recovered the fine. Simultaneously the arrears were recovered. Therefore, from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, a revenue of Rs 12 crore 58 lakh has been received. This is the highest figure of income in the last ten years. Hoardings and flexes have been put up on every street and square of the city. The number of unauthorized is more than the officer. Many are earning billions by distorting the city. Crores of revenue of the Municipal Corporation is sinking. There has been some relief this year.
Income of last five years
The revenue of the Sky Sign department has tripled in the past five years. This includes 3 crore 79 lakh in 2017-18, 3 crore 98 lakh in 2018-19, 6 crore 11 lakh in 2019-20, 4 crore 20 lakh in 2020-21 and 12 crore 50 lakh in 2021-22. There was a decline in income due to the Corona epidemic. However, in the financial year 2021-22, the Sky Sign department has earned marginal revenue. Nilesh Deshmukh, assistant commissioner, Sky Sign Licensing, said efforts are being made to increase revenue. An External Advertising Policy Committee has been set up to decide on the format and overall policy of advertisers and advertisers to determine advertising tools and structure. In the financial year 2021-22, the target was Rs 11 crore, while the revenue has been received at Rs 12.5 crore.
forward in income, behind in action
There are currently 2,141 big hoardings in Pimpri-Chinchwad city. The income is being deposited in the treasury of the Municipal Corporation through the Licensing Board. However, only 2,141 hoardings are official in the city with a population of 2.7 million. A large number of unauthorized hoardings are likely to happen in the city. Only 118 bill boards have been amended in the last one year. The revenue of the Sky Sign Licensing Department seems to be increasing every year, but the department is lagging behind in cracking down on unauthorized hoardings. The city currently has 2,141 large billboards. Apart from this, there are 377 applications in A Regional Office, 67 in B, 27 in A, 27 in D, 12 in E, 160 in F and 35 in C Regional Office. No decision has been taken on these applications yet.