MCD proposes to cut by 1/5th film shooting prices in Delhi

OFFICIALS SAID AN ESTIMATED 30 FILMS ARE SHOT IN A YEAR IN MCD AREAS, AND RATES ARE BEING CUT TO ENCOURAGE FILM PRODUCTION IN THE CAPITAL

- Paras Singh

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to significantly reduce film shooting charges levied in the areas governed by the civic body under a new "unified filming shooting policy" which is expected to be tabled in the next House meeting, officials said on Saturday. The House will take up the draft proposal for approval on Wednesday.

The new policy proposes to reduce basic charges for film shooting from ₹75,000 per day to ₹15,000 for an eight-hour slot and ₹25,000 for 24-hour slots.

The erstwhile East MCD had a separate slab of ₹2 lakh for filming at the Ghazipur landfill site but the garbage dumping sites do not find a mention in the new policy. Officials said permission to shoot at landfill sites will not be granted, as biomining is being carried out at all three locations -Ghazipur, Okhla and Bhalswa.

A senior MCD official, who asked not to be named, said the civic body met with all stakeholders to finalise the draft policy.