Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla and a few councillors recently mooted the plan to generate revenue through advertisement rights of roundabouts across the city. (Credit: X/@hkbabla)The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) has planned to generate revenue by outsourcing more than 30 roundabouts in the city with “an annual advertisement fee” to bolster its finances.The proposal will be submitted to UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria for approval.According to the current agreement with the MC, private firms maintain these roundabouts and display small advertisement boards with their names written on them. However, the civic body will now charge “an annual advertisement fee”, expecting to generate Rs 4-5 crore annually.Also Read | Congress, AAP councillors deliberately skipped meet on key issues: MayorMayor Harpreet Kaur Babla and a few councillors recently mooted the plan to generate revenue through advertisement rights of roundabouts across the city.Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty said, “The MC has proposed outsourcing roundabouts in the city for a fixed amount and will allow the display of advertisements measuring 4’x1′ feet with a height of 1.5 feet from the ground in all four directions.”“Upon getting the UT Administrator’s approval, we will take the proposal forward,” he said.According to MC officials, after the proposal gets the Administrator’s approval, the roundabouts will be auctioned again or current firms may continue by paying the new fee. Additionally, advertisement policies in other areas are being framed to boost revenue.Story continues below this adAlso Read | From homemaker to Chandigarh mayor, meet BJP’s Harpreet BablaThe civic body has been struggling to manage its finances, hitting several developmental projects, including a long-pending road carpeting project. The financial crisis has reached such a point that paying salaries to staff may soon become unaffordable, said an MC official, adding this move will ease the financial burden and help maintain the road infrastructure.According to officials, the MCC has undertaken various measures to enhance its financial condition, including providing temporary water connections in 22 villages outside Lal Dora/Phirni limits, which is estimated to generate Rs 25-30 crore, e-auctioning of advertisement rights at public utilities and connecting passages, which is estimated to generate Rs 25-30 crore, zoning and layout plan development in Manimajra, which is estimated to generate Rs 150-200 crore.According to Mayor Babla, the MC plans to increase annual ground rent for municipal land used by cable operators, will revise the rates for birth and death certificate issuance, and rental agreements for Verka-Vita booths.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Chandigarh Municipal Corporation