The Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) decision to allow the re-opening of the single screen cinema Chandralok, at Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi has met with stiff resistance from the residents.
Chandralok theatre is located adjacent to Pocket 52 near ‘G’ Block of Chittaranjan Park, right in front of a densely populated neighbourhood. The road in front of it is just 12 metres wide and gives access to the residential blocks ahead, which stretch right up to Greater Kailash-II.
The cinema hall that was closed for the last 12 years is all set to open after the DDA relaxed its norms.
However, this move is being opposed by the residents of Chittaranjan Park as they fear that the opening of the cinema hall will lead to traffic snarls as more vehicles will come to the area once the theatre starts functioning.
Brinda Bannerjee, a resident of the area said: “The road is much too narrow to accommodate the additional traffic that would definitely come if the hall is opened again.”
Not just increased traffic, the threat to the security of the residents is also a major concern as outsiders will come to watch the movie playing at the hall.
BK Sharma who lives in Pocket 52 Chittaranjan Park said: “This is a residential neighbourhood, and as residents of this colony, we oppose any move to reopen the hall as it will pose a security risk.”
Apprehensions of the residents were aired during the Board of Enquiry and Hearing of the DDA, which had invited suggestions from the public before taking any decision on Chandralok.
Documents available with The Pioneer revealed that the Board of Enquiry and Hearing has objected to the reopening of Chandralok. The objection is primarily based on the concerns over traffic and security issues that were raised by the residents of Chittaranjan Park.
“Therefore it is not found to be a fit case for regularization as more than 20 objections were received from the residents of this colony and six people present before the board vehemently objected to its regularization,” the minutes of the Board meeting said.
The hall had never been much of an issue earlier. Because of its lack of pretensions - it’s a long shed with a sloping asbestos roof - it was frequented by workers in the area who used to find it convenient to watch movies at a low cost there.
In this era of multiplexes, it would seem naive to assume that if Chandralok reopens, it will resume its low-investment, low-key operation. This is giving sleepless nights to the residents of the area and the resident’s association shot off a letter to lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna and Delhi Development Authority two months ago against any such move.
The Chittaranjan Park RWA, East Pakistan Displaced Persons (EPDP) Association, has been protesting against the temporary hall since the 1970s without much success. Gupta said that as the DDA’s plan is against the Master Plan for Delhi, it will be a futile exercise.
Incidentally, seven single screen cinema halls in the city, which had been running without any legal sanction post-Partition, have now been allowed to be run by the DDA.
A decision to this effect was taken on April 24. These halls, which include Hans on GT Karnal Road, Chandralok in Chittaranjan Park, Sibbal on Mathura Road, Swarn in Shahdara, Suraj in Najafgarh, Raj on Chaukhandi Road and lokesh on Nangloi Road, are either close to or located in congested areas.
