Exploring options of increased income, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is now putting efforts to expand revenue generation from advertisements. With addition of street hoardings from Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, the department is eyeing for doubling its revenue in the next fiscal.
Among various sources of income, the advertisement wing is a crucial department for fetching revenue to the civic body. In the previous financial year ending on 31 March 2024, the revenue collection from advertisements could not touch the estimated figures. As learnt during the recent Budget Session of KMC, in the ongoing fiscal, the figure stood at 29 crores till 24 February. According to member-mayor-in-council, Debasish Kumar, the KMC is anticipating to reach the Rs 35 crore mark on 31 March. According to the MMIC, there were some properties under the KMDA near EM Bypass where the KMC could not float the tender. The municipal corporation also removed 63 illegal hoarding structures from KMC areas. Recently, the KMDA is said to have handed over parts of EM Bypass to the KMC. The civic body has floated tenders for advertisement at various pockets including near Simpark Mall. The KMC hopes to perform better in advertisement revenue generation and collection in the next fiscal.
Meanwhile, for curbing illegal construction in bustee areas, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has formed a committee that would recommend the fee for regularizing the deviations in slums and colony areas. As informed by mayor Firhad Hakim during the budget session, the proposal would soon be placed in the KMC meeting for approval.