New Delhi: Delhi government banned display of sexual or controversial texts, nude or semi-nude images as well as advertisements of alcohol and tobacco products on public transport vehicles. Coming out with a detailed set of guidelines on display of advertisement on vehicles used by public, like auto-rickshaws and buses, the Transport department also banned the usage of obscene and distasteful language or texts having racist overtones.
As per the order, public transport vehicles not having GPS will not be allowed to display any kind of advertisements. All the major auto-rickshaw unions have been resisting government move for mandatory installation of GPS in auto-rickshaws. According to the guidelines, school buses and other buses used to ferry school children will have to "obtain prior clearance from the school principals for displaying any advertisement."
Advertisements on school buses on social or community themes shall be encouraged, the order says. Advertisement which contains political, ethnic, religious or sectarian text, use of firearms and weapons, violence to anyone, provoking anti-social behaviour, lottery tickets, sweepstakes entries and slot machines related advertisements and cruelty to animals are also in the prohibited list. Further, the advertisement should not contain excessive written material or any psychedelic, laser or moving displays shall not be used as they cause distraction to other drivers.
Affixation of advertisements shall be allowed only on rear side and left side of the vehicle and should not cover more than 75 per cent of the area available in each side. It should not obscure the driver's vision, the registration mark (number plate) or any other information which have been made mandatory to be displayed as per the permit condition. According to the guidelines which have been notified today, only those "vehicles which have GPS installed in them shall be allowed to display advertisements."
Complying with the code of advertising practice issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India and ensuring that the provisions of rule 100 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 related to safety glasses and rule 128 related to curtains are adhered to are the other instructions. "The permit holder has to obtain approval from municipal body for publishing advertisement and he would be responsible for the contents of the advertisement irrespective of any consent to display the advertisement which may have been given by State Transport Authority of Transport Department," said the guidelines.
Ten per cent space on big buses, DTC, cluster, contract buses shall be reserved for advertisements by the Government Departments and for cluster and contract buses the advertisements would be given at the base price fixed by DAVP. DTC shall give out such advertisements at the base price fixed by the corporation. Anyone flouting the guidelines and the required standards will be penalized as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
