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A ₹65-crore advertising tender by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has sparked controversy, with several bidders claiming that the technical scoring system is biased to favor a single company. They argue that this could cause the Namma Metro to cost more than ₹375 crore over the next 15
years and raise concerns about transparency and fair competition.
Why Was the Tender Criticized?
After seven years, BMRCL invited bids for advertising rights on 8,755 metro pillars and portals. However, the tender has drawn criticism for several reasons. First, the contract period is 12 years, with an option to extend it by three years, which many see as unusually long. Second, all metro corridors have been combined into one large package, including non-operational routes such as the Blue Line (Outer Ring Road) and Pink Line (Bannerghatta Road-Nagawara). Critics stated this structure limits competition and creates a monopoly, allegedly favoring one private player.
Another major issue is the tender's evaluation process. Bidders stated that 30 marks have been assigned for a presentation before BMRCL officials, which they claim is subjective and open to manipulation. Experience in handling metro-pillar advertisements has also been given extra points under technical criteria, instead of being just a basic eligibility condition. This, sources suggest, may have been done to boost one bidder's score.
Advertising is a key source of non-fare revenue for Namma Metro, helping fund its expansion and loan repayments. While the tender was overdue, bidders fear the metro could lose ₹25 crore annually, totaling ₹375 crore over 15 years. They also allege the tender's design excludes local advertisers, reducing market competition and hurting Bengaluru's advertising ecosystem.
