Outdoor media owners stage protest near Assembly

The Telangana Outdoor Media Owners Association has organised an ‘Assembly March’ to the Telangana State Legislative Assembly, voicing serious opposition to the government’s newly announced policy on outdoor advertising.

Outdoor media owners, workers, and industry stakeholders participated in the protest, expressing deep concern over what they described as an ‘anti-industry’ policy that threatened the survival of the outdoor advertising sector. Protesters held placards and raised slogans seeking immediate withdrawal of the order, and a complete review of the policy.

TOMO representatives said the new regulations have been introduced without adequate consultation with the industry stakeholders despite expectations for inclusive discussions. The policy in its current form could lead to severe financial distress and uncertainty for thousands of businesses on which a lakh families are dependent, they said.

The association also highlighted several operational and administrative challenges arising from the policy, including delays, lack of clarity in implementation, and increased compliance burdens. They warned that if the government fails to address these concerns, the agitation could intensify in the coming days, a statement from TOMO said.