Corpn gives pvt firm 4 months to remove illegal digital ad boards

Coimbatore: The city corporation has issued a show cause notice to the advertising firm that was awarded the electronic advertisement board project for installing the boards along highway. The notice was issued following a Madras high court direction in this regard.
The firm was asked to remove all the boards it put up along the highway as it violated road safety norms on January 30, but the former moved the high court, which in turn directed us to issue show cause notice to the firm and seek explanation before taking any action as per the norms, said a senior corporation official.
Based on the court direction, the corporation has issued the show cause notice to the firm asking it to remove all the boards along the highway within four weeks, the official said.
The official said the firm would be allowed to install electronic advertisement boards only in those the places that are permissible under the law. “Once the new places are identified, a proposal would be submitted to the district collector for permission.” added.
Activist K Kathirmathiyon said they were concerned about the safety of motorists. “We do not have any issue with the firm placing electronic advertisement boards in such a way that they do not distract the commuters. But if the boards are visible to the commuters traveling on both corporation and highway road, then it is a violation.”