Allegations of Bias in Hyderabad Metro Rail Advertising Space Allocation

Hyderabad: The state Congress has alleged that the Hyderabad Metro Rail authorities were biased against it in the matter of allocating space for advertising on its pillars and other spaces, ahead of the November 30 elections.

Telangana Congress spokesperson and media coordinator B. Ayodhya Reddy said, “Metro Rail authorities have allotted advertisement space to the BRS, even though we have been asking for space. The Metro Rail pillars and other properties all feature BRS advertisements.” Other parties have voiced a similar complaint.

Asked about this, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited managing director N.V.S. Reddy said that two-third of advertising space was still available for hiring. “We have written e-mails to the political parties asking them to utilise the space,” he said.

He said that the issue was dealt with by advertising agencies. Political parties should follow procedure, which also involves taking Election Commission permission, and pay Rs 1,200 per sq. ft to advertise on the Metro Rail pillars.