Do you often visit cinema for most of the movie releases? Well, guys here is certainly a disappointing news for all of us. Movie tickets are set to get costlier with the Lok Sabha passing a bill to allow the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to levy entertainment tax. The tax will be imposed in addition to 28 percent GST, which is already being levied on cinema.
Going with the decision, Chandigarh’s Mayor Asha Jaiswal said it would help to increase the revenue of the city’s Municipal Corporation. The increased revenue can be used for developmental works. Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is supposed to get around Rs 17 crores per annum from the multiplexes and theaters in the city. Soon, a meeting of officers would be called and a detailed proposal for tax would be laid before the House for its approval.
Multiplex operators have expressed disappointment with the decision saying it would ruin the entertainment industry. An official from a multiplex said if the tax is imposed, it would put an extra burden on movie-goers, resulting in a big loss for the multiplexes.
Once the tax is imposed, the movie industry will have to pay 58 percent tax, which would lead to a hike in the rates of the movie tickets. At present, the movie tickets in multiplexes start from Rs 150 and it varies on weekdays and weekends. Now, with the implementation of entertainment tax, the prices are set to rise.
There are a number of seven multiplexes and three single-screen theaters in the city. With the rise in the amount of tax, the multiplexes are sure to suffer reduced profits. The decision of the city’s municipal corporation will render the movie tickets beyond the reach of the common man.
Multiplexes in Chandigarh
- Fun Multiplex, Manimajra
- DT Cinemas, DLF City Centre Mall, IT Park, Manimajra
- PVR, Centra Mall, Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh
- PVR, Elante Mall, Industrial Area, Phase 1
- Wave Cinemas, City Emporium Shopping Mall, Chandigarh
- Piccadilly Cinema, Piccadilly Square, Sector 34
- Cinepolis Cinema, TDI Mall Jagat, Sector 17
Theatres in Chandigarh?
- Kiran Theatre, Sector 22
- Neelam Theatre, Sector 17
- Batra Theatre, Sector 37
However, Let us see if the prices of the movie tickets increase in the city or not.