The Yogi Adityanath government has announced the cinema policy in Uttar Pradesh which offers concessions to encourage the growth of single-screen as well as multiplexes in the state. The policy will hopefully see a spurt in the reopening of cinemas which had shut down. There will be concessions for the upgradation of cinemas too. The policy will be in force for a period of five years.
Finance minister Suresh Khanna said that the policy would cover single-screen cinemas, reconstruction and remodelling of operating cinemas, construction of multiplexes in villas which don’t have a single multiplex and upgrading of existing cinemas. The concessions would be in the form of refund of the SGST, either in total or partly.
The salient features of the U.P. cinema policy are as follows:
- For the reconstruction of operating or shut-down cinemas after complete demolition or for modernising them within five years of the policy, the cinemas will be entitled to 100% SGST refund for the first three years and 75% SGST refund for the next two years.
- For changing the interiors of operating or shut-down cinemas and for increasing the number of screens in the cinema, the cinemas will be entitled to 75% SGST refund in the first three years and 50% SGST refund for the next two years.
- For constructing new multiplexes in zillas where there are already existing multiplexes, the newly constructed multiplexes will be entitled to 100% SGST refund in the first three years and 50% SGST refund for the next two years.
- For restarting closed single-screen cinemas without any modifications after renewing the licence prior to 31st March, 2025, and restarting exhibition of films, the cinemas will be entitled to 50% SGST refund in the first three years.
- For constructing single-screen cinemas of at least 75 seats in business centres, the cinemas will get 100% SGST refund in the first three years and 50% SGST refund in the next two years.
- In zillas where there is not a single multiplex, any new multiplex constructed will attract 100% SGST refund for a period five years.
- Single-screen cinemas or multiplexes which spend money on upgradation will be entitled to a refund of 50% of the amount spent or the amount of SGST paid.