Cinema halls in Vijayawada not to open soon

  • | Tuesday | 6th July, 2021

All remained shut since the beginning of Covid-19 second wave from April third week. Film distributor KVV Prasad told TNIE the association has submitted representations to the government many times to allow us to enhance the ticket price, but to no avail.

As recently Vizag reopened the cinema halls with 50% capacity.

Vijayawada has 54 cinema halls, of which 15 are single-screen theatres. All remained shut since the beginning of Covid-19 second wave from April third week. Film distributor KVV Prasad told TNIE the association has submitted representations to the government many times to allow us to enhance the ticket price, but to no avail.

Besides shootings of several big and small budget films have been stalled. Small budget films, which have received good prices from OTTs are selling, while the big-budget films are still at the shooting stage, he said. “Only after the government allows us to enhance the ticket prices can we hope to reopen cinema theatres,” Prasad said. 

He recalled that the government announced a relief package in April, including waiver of fixed power charges for three months and providing an interest subvention scheme. As per orders, the government has waived off fixed power charges for April, May and June 2020 and deferred payment of fixed power charges for a period of six months—from July to December 2020—for all theatres, including multiplexes.

Meanwhile, the restaurant owners are preparing to reopen their business with 50 per cent occupancy from Thursday. Vijayawada Hotels’ Association president P Ravi Kumar said the public is still under a kind of fear psychosis about going to restaurants. 

“However, we have decided to reopen them with 50 per cent occupancy amid strict Covid-19 protocols.” The takeaway business has improved in a few restaurants across the city, while some of them are still lagging behind.

The city has around 800 restaurants and hotels and all of them are reeling under a crisis following Covid-19. For their survival, many restaurants will reopen their businesses from Thursday with 50 per cent occupancy, he informed.

Similar is the case with gymnasiums, several trainers and fitness experts have been rendered jobless during Covid-19. The gyms will reopen to help them survive. Vijayawada has around 150 gyms, including the elite ones run by the leading fitness clubs.

“For the last two months, we have been offering online sessions for a few of our customers. But with the government giving relaxation, we are gearing up to offer our services, but with 50 per cent occupancy,” G Durga Rao, owner of Solid Power Gym, said.

The two major demands from the film distributors and theatre managements are enhancing ticket price and waiving off taxes and electricity bills generated during the lockdown. Vijayawada has 54 
cinema halls.


If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Latest Vijayawada headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles