Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Tirupati Roads Face Banner Clutter, Raising Spiritual Concerns
Tirupati is a city visited by many people going to temples.
Its roads are now covered with banners and advertisements.
Many banners celebrate political leaders’ birthdays or special events.
Some signs are also placed by businesses and private groups.
Local residents say this makes the city look untidy and less spiritual.
The banners are often put up at night and may stay for several days.
The city corporation is being questioned about whether these signs have permission.
It also collects much less advertising money than officials believe it could.
Banners, flex boards, and advertisements cover roads, poles, dividers, footpaths, and junctions across Tirupati.
Political supporters frequently install large banners for birthdays, greetings, and other events.
Roads leading to Tirumala and other temples are especially affected, despite being used by thousands of pilgrims daily.
The Municipal Corporation of Tirupati faces questions over permits, advertising-fee collection, and monitoring.
The civic body collects about ₹1.50 crore annually in advertising revenue against an estimated potential of nearly ₹11 crore.
- Who
- Local residents, political supporters, commercial advertisers, and the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati are involved in the issue.
- What
- Tirupati’s roads and public spaces are increasingly filled with banners, flex boards, and advertisements.
- When
- Banners are commonly installed for birthdays and other occasions, often overnight, and may remain for days afterward.
- Where
- Across Tirupati, including roads leading to Tirumala and other temples, major junctions, footpaths, poles, dividers, and bus shelters.
- Why
- Political, commercial, and private groups use public spaces for publicity, while questions have been raised about municipal monitoring and advertising-fee collection.
- Annual advertising revenue
- About ₹1.50 crore collected by the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati
- Estimated revenue potential
- Nearly ₹11 crore
- Listed cantilevers
- Around 36
- Listed hoardings and advertisements
- About 200
- Bus shelters with advertisements
- 45
- Advertising agencies
- More than 12 operate in the city
- Main concern
- Publicity clutter is seen as weakening Tirupati’s neat and spiritual ambience