A legal battle is brewing between PVR-INOX and the Civil Aviation Authority in Madras, with the latter asking the largest multiplex chain of India to shut down its multiplex in the AeroHub Mall near the airport. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has issued PVR-INOX a notice for shutdown, citing concerns that patrons are using the car park, leading to a scarcity of parking spaces for passengers. The multiplex giant will challenge the closure notice in court.
The multiplex in the AeroHub Mall is a preferred destination for travellers seeking to unwind before or after their flights. Its strategic location made it an attractive option for passengers looking to catch the latest films during their layovers. However, the convenience of having a cinema in the vicinity of the airport has come fraught with an unexpected problem — that of parking congestion. The car park, originally designed to accommodate airport passengers, is now facing increasing pressure from the cinema patrons, leading to a lack of parking place for those flying in and out of the airport. Locals have also been patronising the cinema, further adding to the burden.
When things came to a head, the AAI issued a notice to the management of the AeroHub Mall, including PVR-INOX, ordering the closure of the cinema. The multiplex chain feels, it is being penalised for a problem it did not create.
