DDA likely to allow conversion of old cinemas into multiplexes
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is planning to authorise seven temporary cinemas in the city. As per the prescribed development control norms, there are chances that some of the cinemas may be converted into multiplexes, said DDA sources.
The temporary cinema halls which are likely to be regularised are namely, Swarn in Vishwas Nagar, Seble in Badarpur, Lokesh near Rohtak Road, Suraj in Najafgarh, Chandralok in Chittaranjan Park, Hans in Azadpur and Raj in Tilak Nagar.
The cinema halls were started in order to provide entertainment at lesser rates to the economically weaker sections. Initially they were formed as big sheds and later got replaced by concrete structures. Though they have been operating for nearly 40 years, the Master Plan of Delhi, has failed to categorise them as cinema halls and were running on licences.
About two months ago, the DDA had given green signal to these cinema halls on a condition that no new temporary cinemas would be allowed to come up and the existing cinemas have been directed to follow norms.
However, according to the sources, the Authority is planning to hold its board meeting on Tuesday in which the concerned officials will discuss about the regularisation of seven “temporary” cinema halls of the capital will be discussed.
A DDA official explained that, as per the norms set by the authority, to convert the old cinema halls into multiplexes, the cinemas should have enough seating and space for auditoriums and commercial complexes. Also there should be wider roads, enough parking space and security arrangements in place. The cinemas need at least 18-m wide roads in front and ample parking area in which a 100 square metres space would hold at least three vehicles.
The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) allowed for these movie halls is 100 subject to a maximum of 3,000 square metre. But if the plot is spread over 4,000 sqm and is located on a 24-m road, then the FAR value permissible will not exceed 4,000 sqm and will be subject to undertaking traffic impact study and more.
The maximum height limit for the structures will be 15 metres. Once the space required for a 300 seating-capacity is filled, only then commercial activities shall be allowed in the remaining space.
Still, it is suspected that Chandralok cinema might not get the authority’s nod as it does not fulfil the said norms.
By the 1940s there were around seven cinema houses (mostly called as ‘bioscope’) in Old Delhi. In 1997, the first modern multiplex in Delhi, the Anupam cinema, was opened by PVR in South Delhi which revolutionised the movie theater industry and broke many national records in cinema exhibition. The city was the first to have a four-screen multiplex in India. There are presently over 20 multiplexes in the city and few more are coming up soon. Some of these are stand-alone multiplexes while others are located in shopping malls.
