Shillong: Shillong Smart City Limited wants your attention. The agency is moving to turn public information screens at major city junctions into cash-generating digital billboards. They issued an Expression of Interest on July 16 to scout corporate entities and advertising firms for this venture.
These screens used to show traffic and weather. Now, they are for sale. The network includes large 4m by 2m LED screens at traffic junctions and smaller 0.9m by 0.6m billboards at strategic spots. The boards can handle static images, graphics, and loud video animations.
Everything runs through the Integrated Command and Control Centre. This facility was once built for city security and disaster management. Now, it will manage ad slots. The proposal targets the busiest areas in the city including Barik, Civil Hospital Junction, Police Bazar, Laitumkhrah, Polo, and the Additional Secretariat.
SSCL needs feedback on booking models and ad frequency. They want to know how to frame future policies. As the plan moves forward, residents are questioning the motive. They wonder if the money will pay for urban maintenance or if the screens will become a dangerous distraction for motorists. The SSCL notes this serves as a "market assessment and price discovery exercise" before the full rollout of commercial advertisements.
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