Kathmandu has got a fresh and flashy look! Take a walk around the city and you will see what I mean, with billboards lighting up the streets, adding a modern touch to the scene. Billboards are used for more business and visibility, however, they seem to mismatch with Kathmandu’s traditional aesthetics and are also raising eyebrows about driver safety and visual pollution. Now, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City is stuck in the middle. With mixed rules and even court debates, can KMC keep things balanced in this bright, new Kathmandu?
A Crackdown with Mixed Signals
In an attempt to address the issues with visual pollution, KMC held a campaign where they removed unauthorized digital boards. During this, they also switched off the giant display at the World Trade Centre in Tripureshwor. Initially, the efforts from KMC were praised by urban planners and heritage activists. However, the efforts were not as effective as the very billboard was in operation again. Not only that, more billboards in the key places like Durbarmarg, Koteshwor and Kalimati started to appear.
Currently, there is not much that can be done as Patan High Court has ordered the stay on the billboard restrictions.
Regarding the issue, even the KMC officials seem to be divided. In talks with City spokesperson Nabin Manandhar, he acknowledged that there is an issue of lack of solid policy. Looking at the current policy, the city only limits permits to boards under 800 square feet. However, it fails to address the rise of large digital screens.
Safety vs. Aesthetic Appeal
This issue is not just about how Kathmandu looks but also stresses upon keeping the streets safe. Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police, has also pointed out that the bright lights emitting from these large ad boards can be distracting for the drivers, especially on busy roads, and could lead to an increase in road accidents. It even gets worse near traffic signals. Regarding the issue, the urban planner and former government official Kishore Thapa has also raised concerns about these risks.
A Notice regarding the removal of unauthorized boards
Haphazardly installed hoarding boards, pamphlets and posters
Selective Enforcement: Small Businesses Feel the Squeeze
Moving on, one of the major issues with the KMC’s approach is their selective enforcement of advertising regulation. Many questions are being raised by the small businesses as while the large digital boards are being allowed without proper regulations, their modest storefront signs are being targeted and removed. Asmita Khanal, a local shopkeeper, voiced her frustration, mentioning that while big businesses pay hefty taxes for their oversized billboards, her simple name board attracts city inspectors.
Matter of fact, KMC’s digital boards bring in an annual revenue of Rs 50 million. This had led many to argue this incentivizes KMC to favor large advertisers while keeping smaller shops under strict regulation.
Current Regulations: Limits and Loopholes
The 2013 Advertising Policy already sets specific size and placement guidelines, aiming to keep billboards 30 feet above ground and positioned at least 10 feet away from main roads. Additional rules, through the 2079 BS Financial Act, imposed Rs 500 per square foot on standard hoarding boards and Rs 800 per square foot on digital displays, which made the latter more lucrative for KMC. But despite these standards, enforcement has been irregular, as officials struggle to track and monitor new displays.
Heritage vs. Modernization
Kathmandu’s billboard issue is not just about the business and regulations but it stresses upon keeping the city’s charm. In 2014, senior advocate Padma Bahadur Shrestha filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to remove these large hoardings from public spaces calling them ‘visual pollutants’ in a city like Kathmandu. While KMC has made some efforts, applying these rules has been a challenge. Today, billboards still fill our streets, leaving people concerned about the city’s character fading away.
Responsible Advertising
This whole debate over digital billboards in Kathmandu reflects a larger challenge that the city has been facing: the delicate balance between commercial interests and the need to preserve Kathmandu’s unique urban environment. Possible policy changes might recast responsible advertising so as to ensure that urban aesthetics are preserved without stifling economic opportunities for local businesses. Stricter regulation of billboards could serve as one model for sustainable urban advertising respectful of Kathmandu’s heritage and its growing business landscape.