Only 625 businesses in Bengaluru left to comply with Kannada signage rules, says BBMP
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is optimistic about achieving full compliance of the 60:40 rule within the next 15 days.
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Protesters vandalise a billboard and a signboard in Bengaluru on December 27. (Express Photo by M Jithendra)As the deadline for adhering to the 60:40 language ratio on signboards ended on Wednesday, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is gearing up for citywide enforcement.
As of March 12, 1,116 establishments had yet to meet the requirement that 60 per cent of the space on signboards must contain Kannada text. However, the BBMP is optimistic about achieving full compliance within the next 15 days.
A fortnight ago, when the BBMP began shutting down non-compliant businesses, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar verbally extended the deadline by two weeks. But there was no formal written directive regarding the extension.
A BBMP official said, “The proposal for implementation has been forwarded to BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. I am awaiting instructions on the next steps.”
Of the 50,357 establishments found in violation of the rule in December, 2023, 49,732 have already complied, leaving 625 yet to conform, the BBMP said.
B Sannerappa, general secretary of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, said that several shops in four or five areas in Bengaluru remained non-compliant. Many have resorted to temporary measures such as covering English signage with plastic or cloth and affixing Kannada stickers, he added.
Sannerappa said the authorities must ensure that businesses obtain new, compliant signage. He cited instances of major brands like Puma adhering to the regulations with new signage.
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