Aluva: Complaints are mounting against contractor agencies in Aluva for installing advertisement boards at various junctions without the municipal council’s approval, allegedly with the silent consent of the authorities. Many of the boards have reportedly been placed on traffic islands and roundabouts, often obstructing the line of sight for drivers of smaller vehicles and creating safety risks.

According to N Sreekanth, leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party in Aluva, contractors encroached on these spaces under the cover of a 2022 municipal council permission that was limited to installing streetlights on the overbridge along the National Highway. He alleged that no approval was given for advertisement boards at key locations such as Pump Junction, District Hospital Junction, and Railway Station Square.

Sreekanth said the municipality should be collecting at least ₹200 per square foot for each board. By allowing them to be erected without approval, he alleged, the authorities have facilitated a major scam.

He also pointed out that the streetlight installation contract was awarded for 12 years, despite the council’s five-year tenure. Such a long-term deal, he argued, reflects vested interests aimed at protecting contractors. He demanded the immediate cancellation of all unauthorised dealings and said the BJP would file a formal complaint with the Local Body Ombudsman.