The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) are on a collision course over the latter’s proposal to instal advertisements on metro rail pillars in the Aluva-Edappally NH corridor.
The development comes at a time when the metro agency has already awarded the tender to instal advertisements on all metro pillars, in a bid to garner non-ticketing revenue for operation and maintenance of the system of mass rapid transport. Every sixth pillar will have a vertical garden.
Quoting the NH Act of 2002, sources in the NHAI’s Kochi project office said that advertisements are banned on all highways coming under the Authority. “We permitted KMRL to build the metro on land owned by us, in public interest. The land occupied by metro pillars is part and parcel of the NH that we own and maintain. The metro agency cannot instal any advertisement anywhere on the stretch, mainly because motorists get distracted. We will serve a legal notice in case KMRL goes ahead with its plans,” they said.
The officials added that KMRL can go ahead with its proposal to have a vertical garden on metro pillars, and also flowering and other plants on the median beneath the metro viaduct.
Responding to the issue, KMRL Managing Director Elias George said the NHAI has so far not communicated any objection to placing advertisements on metro pillars. “Metro companies across India rely on advertisements to rake in non-ticketing revenue for sustainable operation of metro rail systems. The NHAI must remember that metro funds were used to add a tarred lane on each side of Aluva-Edappally NH corridor. This has enabled faster movement of vehicles on the corridor,” he said.
A metro spokesperson said the tender to instal standardised advertisements on pillars and the median has been awarded. “This has been communicated to NHAI headquarters. Metro pillars are owned by the metro company concerned, under the Metro Rail Act.” Officials of NHAI’s Kochi office said they are unaware of the communication.
Ads on trains
She added that the tender process for installing advertisements on interior and exterior of metro trains is under way. The bid will be finalised in a fortnight.
In the meantime, a private firm that won the bid to have its name suffixed with the name of Aluva, Kalamassery and Kaloor metro stations for a price, has withdrawn from the fray. The KMRL would have to retender the station names. Another firm had won the naming right of M.G. Road and Edappally metro stations.
The metro agency also intends to garner revenue from advertisements placed within metro stations and kiosks inside the premises.