Shripad Ashtekar
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Signpost India Ltd, one of India’s leading digital out-of-home media and public infrastructure enterprises, having presence in 32 cities in India currently is planning to expand it’s network to 100 cities by next year as outdoor advertising demand for Indian enterprises and MSMEs is increasing rapidly said it’s Managing Director Shripad Ashtekar said in an interview.“We are planning to grow to 100 cities but with a newer model where it will be more of asset light model,” he said.He said religious cities like Puri, Ayodhya, Tirupati and even Varanasi with large number of visitors provide significant growth potential.“Besides religious cities, tourism areas and smart cities which are growing at a faster pace are part of our extension strategy,” he added. “Our survey has been completed. Now data layering has started. We will be doing the beta testing in quarter 3. So next year will be having the more refined version. But AI will give a smarter version,” he added. The company is looking to invest around ₹60 to ₹70 crore this year. For fiscal year 2025-26, the company reported 27% YoY growth in revenue at ₹576 crore. EBITDA at ₹152 crore grew 61% YoY. Profit After Tax surged 107% to ₹70 crore.Return on Equity rose to 24.40%, Return on Assets reached 10.21% and Debt-Equity improved to 0.68x (from 0.75x). “By investingsystematically into foundational civic infrastructure like the Bangalore Metro and premium electric fleets, we have built highly resilient, long-term media networks,” Mr Ashtekar said.“The simultaneous doubling of our net profit and lowering of our leverage proves the execution of our transit-first strategy as we scale our digital and data-led footprint,” he added.During the year Signpost secured long-term media concessions across public transit infrastructure - including metro rail, bus fleets, and streetscapes - targeting the urban “WEST” network (Work, Entertainment, Shopping, Transit). Key FY26 milestones included adding 67 stations to the Bangalore Metro (BMRCL) network, Kolkata Streetscape Renaissance project, and deploying over 1,000 green fleet buses across Mumbai and Goa. Digital advertising’s share of revenue grew from 19% to 26% within a single year, highlighting efficient monetization of its existing physical footprint. The company’s national footprint expanded to 32 active urban centers following the activation of 9 regional hubs, including Agra, Ayodhya, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, and Chandigarh.And CRISIL upgraded the company’s rating to Long-Term: A- and Short-Term: A2+ during the year, acknowledging its strong cash generation and capital discipline. Published - June 01, 2026 10:44 pm IST
