Moviegoers in Telangana will now have to shell out more money to watch films in single screens and multiplexes, as the state government gave its nod for theatre owners to hike the cost of tickets.
According to a Government Order (GO) issued by the Telangana government, the ticket prices are being hiked after some theatre managements approached the Hyderabad High Court on the issue.
“Following directives from the court, a committee was constituted on February 28, 2017, to recommend classification of cinema rates. Following the recommendations, the new rates were decided,” TOI quoted the GO as saying.
The TOI report adds that the maximum ticket price for multiplexes has been fixed at Rs 300, while the maximum rate for air-conditioned, single screen theatres under the jurisdiction of municipal corporations across the state, has been fixed at Rs 120.
This also includes the area under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). All the ticket prices stated, are inclusive of taxes.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that the rates of the ticket depended on the location.
While ticket rates can vary between Rs 40 to Rs 300 in municipal corporations, the ticket prices will vary between Rs 30 and Rs 80 in municipalities.
In nagar panchayats and gram panchayats, ticket costs will vary from Rs 15 to Rs 70.
The GO also dictates that multiplexes should charge 20% less than the maximum ticket price for seats in the first two rows of the theatre.
Other reports add that the state government has made it mandatory for the theatres to show the breakdown of the cost involved, such as rates of admission, GST, maintenance charges and online charges separately on every ticket.
This move comes ahead of the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, which has put movie tickets in the 18% tax slab, which will come into effect from July 1.
The new ticket rates will also be applicable from July 1.