The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is taking steps to make the city more beautiful. As part of a pilot project, the Khairatabad flyover has been chosen to stop people from putting up posters and defacing the walls. Political parties and other organizations have been some of the biggest violators, pasting posters and banners on the flyover.
Starting from September 27, the GHMC has imposed a complete ban on unauthorized posters, wall writings, cutouts, and flexes. This new rule applies to both public and private spaces. The GHMC has also warned that anyone who breaks the rules will face penalties. The main goal of this new rule is to preserve the city’s “aesthetic appeal.”
K Srikanth, an IT employee, shared his experience, saying that he travels daily via Khairatabad to Hi-Tech City. He noticed that most of the posters and flags on the Khairatabad flyover belong to political parties. Srikanth pointed out that those in power often break the rules by putting up posters and flags freely. He has been observing this for over 10 years.
C Karuna, a housewife from Himayatnagar, said that the festive season makes things worse. She explained that during festivals, many political leaders and organizations put up flex banners everywhere, especially near temples and at crossroads. These posters and banners make it difficult for people to enjoy the city’s beauty.
In some areas like Ameerpet, Maitrivanam, and Dilshuknagar, many posters come from educational institutions promoting their courses. Public and private properties, such as parks, also suffer from wall writings and posters. Cultural hubs in the city, where festivals are celebrated, often put up posters as well.
According to S Raghunath, a private employee in King Koti, there are three types of people who put up posters. The first group includes those in power, who often ignore the rules. The second group includes those who can afford to pay for advertising space, using traffic dividers, metro pillars, and billboards. The third group consists of people who cannot afford advertising or don’t have power, so they use walls to communicate.
The GHMC’s new rule impacts the third group the most, including educational institutions in areas like Maitrivanam. Sekhar Goud, a student taking an AI/ML course in Maitrivanam, believes that the GHMC should create designated spaces for posters. He feels that having a clean city is important, but it is also necessary to give everyone a fair chance to share their message.
