The cluttered signage at Old Town will be revived with authorities planning to implement a Heritage Signage Guidelines for Ekamra Kshetra, a draft of which recently got approved by the development body.
After enforcement of the guidelines, certain areas at Old Town will be declared as “No-hoarding Zone”. Besides, the hoarding and signage, which damage the architectural character of the building, will be removed.
The signage of individual shops will be consistent to the maximum possible extent in the streetscape.
Moreover, the building signs for both residential and commercial ones will not be painted on the original face of the laterite wall, brick wall, sandstone, terracotta and tiling of any other surface that is built with the traditional knowledge and technology. Within a heritage precinct, the signage of individual shops will coincide with the existing historic facade and not pose damage to the original architectural signature.
Besides, any new signage needs prior authorisation of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority. If any organisation or individual found violating the guidelines, they will be punished as unauthorised development. In case of deliberate neglect of heritage building or precinct or any damaged caused to the structure or it is destroyed because of neglect, a penal action proposed by the authority will be taken against the violators.