What was meant to be a Rs 65 crore advertising tender by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has become contentious, with several bidders alleging that the process lacks transparency and may have been structured to favour a particular player. If these charges hold merit, they point to an urgent need for stronger oversight and greater accountability in awarding public contracts.

After a seven-year gap, BMRCL invited bids to grant advertising rights on 8,755 metro pillars across the city. However, participants have raised several questions regarding the tender structure. The contract runs for 12 years, extendable by three, an unusually long period for an advertising concession.

Moreover, all existing and future corridors have been bundled into a single package, a move that res

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