In a move to resurrect the heritage of the national Capital, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has planned to regularise single screen cinemas, which faced extinction under the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2021. The MPD does not permit continuance of temporary cinema halls as these allegedly don’t conform to the security and traffic standards in Delhi.
Considered as a hub of the city entertainers by old timers and movie aficionados, there are eight such cinema halls in Delhi. These include Hans on GT Karnal Road, Chander lok in Chittaranjan Park, Sibbal on Mathura Road, Swarn in Shahdara, Suraj in Najafgarh, Raj on Chaukhandi Road and lokesh on Nangloi Road. Most of these cinema halls are either close to or located in congested areas.
The owners of Minerva (Kashmeri Gate), Ritz (Kashmeri Gate), Jagat (Jama Masjid), Jubilee (Chandni Chowk), Radhu (near Shyam lal college), Kalyan (Mandawali) and Chand (Kalyan Puri) are also planning to approach the Ministry of Urban Development and DDA for change of land use to regularise single screen theatre. They are also seeking permission to allow commercial use of the ground floor.
Following the direction of Ministry of Urban Development, the DDA is bringing a policy to grant licence to these cinema halls.
But residents of the area and elected representatives, who are member of the DDA, are opposing the move, saying this will cause security threats and traffic jams. They also say that as the DDA plan is against the Master Plan for Delhi, it will be a futile exercise.
They give example of Chander lok cinema in Chitranjan Park, which was closed about 25 years ago. If the cinema hall is opened, it is likely to cause traffic congestion and security problems. The Board of Enquiry and Hearing of the DDA invited public objections and suggestions on Chander lok. Over 29 objections were received.
As per DDA plan, commercial activity will be allowed after excluding the space required for capacity of 300 seats in the cinema hall. The commercial space will be for the activities as permissible under the MPD 2021.