Single-screen cinemas in Pune have asked the government to allow them to change the user as they have incurred unbearable losses during the current lockdown closure of cinemas. The Pune Cinema Owners’ Association (PCOA) has demanded that the government change its rule which currently does not allow cinemas to change its user. Cinema properties in Maharashtra cannot be converted for use for any other business. But looking to the huge losses being suffered by single-screen cinemas in view of their fixed costs of salaries and maintenance, many cinemas will not be able to restart business activities. If the government does not permit change of user, the cinema owners will not be able to conduct any other business from the cinema premises even after the cinema is shut down for good.
According to PCOA president, Sadanand Mohol, the Association has filed an application in the Bombay high court for seeking relief from the government. The Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) has also demanded change of user for cinemas.