Maharashtra Government Rejects Pune's Hoarding Fee Hike; PMC Ordered to Respond
Pune, 23rd July 2025: The Maharashtra state government has struck down the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) resolution to hike advertisement hoarding fees, citing non-compliance with the state’s Advertising Policy 2022. The PMC now has 30 days to respond with its explanation, pending legal opinion.
The PMC had approved the increased hoarding charges on December 28, 2022, following a resolution passed by its general body. As per this decision, hoarding holders were being charged between ₹580 and ₹700 per sq. ft. annually. A provision was also made to raise the rate by 10% annually for the next three years and apply a 50% higher rate in newly merged Gram Panchayat areas.
However, the Pune Outdoor Advertising Association opposed the fee hike, lodging a formal complaint with the state government and filing a writ petition in the Bombay High Court. In response, the state government reviewed the proposal and ruled it inconsistent with the Advertisement Policy 2022.
According to state officials, the PMC had earlier resolved under General Body Resolution No. 667, dated September 28, 2018, to charge ₹222 per sq. ft. per year. The recent hike, introduced in 2022, was based on the assumption of a consistent annual increase since 2013, but the government noted that the escalation did not align with the policy guidelines or due legal process.
“The state government has quashed the municipal corporation’s resolution. The municipal corporation has been given 30 days to submit its views. Accordingly, we will submit our views to the state government after taking the opinion of the legal department, and we will not take any action regarding the collection of fees until the opinion of the legal department is received,” said Santosh Warule, Deputy Commissioner of PMC.
This decision by the state government highlights the importance of adhering to established policies and legal procedures in municipal governance. The PMC will need to carefully review its processes and provide a comprehensive response to the state government within the given timeframe. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for similar issues in other municipalities across the state.
