MCC renews push for ‘flex-free’ city beyond Dasara

Buoyed by the response to its ‘Flex-Free Dasara-2026’ campaign, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has renewed its appeal for a flex-free city beyond the festive season, warning of fines and legal action against those installing unauthorised banners, flex boards and posters.

The MCC said the campaign had helped preserve Mysuru’s cleanliness, aesthetic appeal and heritage character during Dasara, earning appreciation from citizens, tourists and other stakeholders. It urged the public to sustain the effort instead of allowing unauthorised publicity materials to return to the city’s streets.

In a statement, the MCC appealed to elected representatives, political supporters, organisations, traders and members of the public to refrain from putting up unauthorised publicity materials to mark birthdays, festivals, anniversaries and other occasions.

Prior permission from the competent authority is mandatory for installing such materials, the corporation said, asking those who had already erected unauthorised flex boards, banners and posters to remove them voluntarily.

Warning of strict enforcement, the MCC said unauthorised materials would be removed and action, including the imposition of fines, initiated against those responsible under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981.

The renewed appeal follows Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s directive at a Dasara preparatory meeting to keep Mysuru free of flex banners and publicity materials during the festivities, except for official Dasara publicity. He had directed the MCC and the city police to clear unauthorised displays.

Acting on the directive, the MCC cleared unauthorised flex materials ahead of Dasara, helping improve the city’s visual appeal. The MCC has now called for continued public cooperation to ensure that the gains are not confined to the festival season and that Mysuru retains its distinctive heritage character.