Multiplex opening yet to see the light of day

Lalit Mohan

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Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 5

Three malls proposed for Kangra district are reportedly finding it difficult to run multiplexes on their premises due to the complexity of the Himachal Pradesh Cinema (Regulation) Act, 1979.

Maximus Mall is built at a cost of Rs 22 crore in Dharamsala, while two others are being constructed at Palampur town. Maximus Mall is awaiting permission under the cinema Act to operate 200-seat cinemas, which are ready to use.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Ritesh Chauhan said as per the Act, owners of the mall must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the executive engineer, Public Works Department, before starting the construction of the cinema halls.

The three malls, which have plans to run multiplexes, have not obtained the required NOC before the construction, the DC.

“I will forward the case of the three cinemas (malls) to the state government after they complete other formalities. Now, it is up to the government whether to relax the rules (for them),” the DC said.

Guddu Pathania, director, Maximus Mall, said we had completed all formalities, including approval (for maps) from the Town and Country Planning Department and the Municipal Council.

He said they too had obtained NOCs from the IPH, Fire Department and Power Department.

“We are not aware of the rules that an NOC (for running a multiplex) need to be obtained from the PWD executive engineer before starting the construction. We will request the authorities concerned to consider our case otherwise our huge investment will go waste,” he said.

Local tour operators say the opening of the Maximus Mall, the first mall with multiplex in the region, would help boost tourism in the region.