The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has come down on errant advertisement agencies that have put up hoardings across the city without paying money for the same.

A special drive has now been initiated to recover the money from the agencies, according to officials of the Land and Estate Department.

Land Estate Officer John Gonsalves said: “The process to recover the money has been started and that includes legal action against the defaulters. We are also going to chalk out a plan for the areas that have been brought within corporation limits sometime ago.”

Gonsalves said further that of the total outstanding amount of Rs 9 crore, some of the companies had made part payment and issued bank cheques that were dishonoured.

“While we will serve notices to the defaulters, we are also going to file a formal police complaint against such agencies. Rest of the formalities will be done through legal means,” he added.

The agencies figuring in the list of defaulters include Sujal Advertisements with unpaid dues of Rs 2.78 lakh; Pinky Advertisements (Rs 2.37 lakh); Market Movers (Rs 22 lakh); Sun Communications (Rs 11 lakh); Chitra Publicity (Rs 26 lakh); and Pruthvi Association (Rs 9 lakh).

According to the VMC, hoarding costs yet to be recovered amount to Rs 3.5 crore for the financial year 2008-09.

Meanwhile, the civic body has decided to serve a notice to Vodafone for placing advertising boards at society gates without the knowledge of authorities.

“We are going to serve a notice to the company and will take further action after getting a response,” said Gonsalves.

While discussing the plan for the new corporation areas, he said that earlier, the VMC used to earn Rs 87 lakh through advertisements.