On Sunday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting released revised Standard Operating Procedures for cinemas, allowing them to operate at full capacity.
Announcing the SOPs, Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, said, “It is good news for moviegoers that cinemas have been allowed to operate at 100% occupancy. We will encourage online bookings and staggered shows, and moviegoers can eat inside the cinema halls.”
In the revised SOPs, cinemas are allowed to function with full capacity now. The Information and Broadcasting ministry’s SOPs suggest that after a show is over, exits should be done in a staggered, row-wise manner to avoid crowding. There should also be sufficient time intervals between screenings to ensure row-wise staggered entry and exit of the audience. Cinemas have been asked to follow staggered show timings for multiple screens to avoid crowding.
To minimise physical contact, customers are encouraged to use cinema apps/QR codes, etc as much as possible to order their snacks.
In a statement, Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Limited, said, “This will finally give a much-needed boost to the multiplex industry. This move will give producers the confidence to release their much-awaited films and aid in audiences returning to cinemas to watch movies in the company of their loved ones.”
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