On Sunday Minister of information and broadcasting has issued SOPs setting protocols of maintaining necessary distance, wearing mask and sanitization of the auditorium after every screening as Government has granted the operation of Cinema halls at 100 percent occupancy from Monday.
By maintaining carefully all the safety protocols of Covid-19, Cinema halls are now allowed to Operate at full capacity across the country from February 1, 2021, as announced on Sunday by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Prakash Javadekar.
Appropriate and enough physical distancing is required along with the usage of mask properly and sanitization of the auditorium after completing each and every screening is mandatory as mentioned in latest SOP by the Union Minister of information and broadcasting , after Government has granted the permission of 100 percent capacity of the operation of Cinema halls from Monday.
Alok Tandon, Chief Executive Officer, INOX Leisure Ltd., said, “For the revival of the cinema exhibition industry, relaxations of the seating norms was a vital prerequisite. This will ease apprehensions in the minds of content producers and studios, who may now announce release dates of their movies. We look forward to the state governments to give us the nod to implement the revised guidelines.”
To avoid huge gathering, the system of digital tickets booking via Cinema App, usage of online payment mode to avoid contact and staggered timing of the shows will be encouraged as said by the Minister issuing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Sufficient time will be given in between the screenings , so that there will be no rush at the entry and exit point and hand sanitizers will be also provided at the entry gate to maintain safety protocols.
The Union Minister of information and broadcasting has said , “There is good news. In February, people can watch and enjoy films in theatres as we are allowing full occupancy in all cinema halls. Cinema halls can now open at 100 per cent capacity. We encourage as much online booking (of tickets) as possible,” to the reporters.
By Manoshi Dhar
Source – PTI
