Well, Chennai has always lived with its banners, posters, flags, and
hoardings. It is a hub of outdoor advertising. You can see banner ads on the
suburban trains; you can see banners, posters, flags and the like in every
road that you travel in the city.
More than a year ago, Chennai’s skyline underwent a radical change. After
the removal of hundreds, nay thousands of giant hoardings, Chennai citizens
could breathe better and they had a glimpse of trees and buildings they had
not till then seen. Footpaths turned easier to use, since the over-sized
metal scaffoldings disappeared. For motorists, traffic signals became
visible.
The decision of the Chennai Corporation not to permit wall posters and
graffiti on Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai, two key roads in the city, from
tomorrow would make our dear city a better place to live in. The Mayor had
announced that images of various cultural symbols would be painted on
compound walls of government property on the two roads. This would improve
aesthetics. After all, posters are indeed an eyesore.
The civic body has decided to take up these two roads initially on a
pilot basis. That means, its city beautification initiative will gradually
cover other areas as well. .
Several attempts have been made in the past, in vain to rid the city of
posters. This time, our worshipful Mayor seems to be serious. He has warned
that if advertisers fail to remove posters and graffiti on their own by
today, Chennai Corporation's men and machinery will have them removed. The
Tamil Nadu Open Spaces (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1959, provides for
a punishment of imprisonment of one year and/or fine up to Rs 5,000!
We wish the Mayor all success in his endeavour, though belated, to
beautify our dear Chennai.
HR