Title - Illegal ads in trains rip rlys off revenue: Audit

Posters and hoardings put up illegally on railway property are causing financial losses to the tune of almost Rs1 crore to the railways by edging out legitimate advertisers who are willing to advertise in your locals and hoardings on railway property.

The railway authorities have failed to initiate action even as posters and stickers of tantrik babas are slapped on in local trains while hoardings and banners at railway stations have been “taken away” by illegal display mafia.

This issue has now caught the attention of the railway board after the government auditor pulled up the railway’s Mumbai division. The audit report, which was presented in Parliament on August 13, was made public last week.

The report states that three contracts for display of advertisements in local trains had to be closed as the railways could not provide a proper advertising site due to unauthorised and illegal display of advertisements. “The railways failed to prevent such displays, resulting in a loss of 0.73 crore (or Rs73lakh),” the report stated.

The audit report said lack of vigilance indicates a clear risk of possible collusion between railway authorities and the illegal users, resulting in leakage of revenue”.  A Central Railway spokesperson confirmed that illegal advertisements have become a menace.