For promotion of multiplexes, PVR seeks incentives from Punjab Govt

Having already invested over Rs 100 cr in Punjab, they are now looking forward to getting state government's support

Multiplex operator PVR Cinemas today sought from Punjab government new incentives including subsidised electricity, land at concessional rate and stamp duty exemption to promote multiplexes and cinemas in the state.

Having already invested over Rs 100 crore in Punjab, PVR Cinemas said it is now looking forward to getting state government's support, contending the state's new industrial policy has not "offered anything" for promoting multiplexes in the state.

"We are bullish on Punjab. We hope the Punjab government doled out some incentives for multiplex companies," PVR Limited CEO & Group President, Pramod Arora, told PTI here.

"We should get subsidised electricity, we should get exemption in taxes. We want concessional rate of land for (setting up) multiplexes and no stamp duty (for multiplexes)," he said.

Arora further sought allowing multiplexes to be open beyond 11 pm in Punjab, saying it would give a boost to multiplex sector in the state.

He said the state's new industrial policy did not offer any incentive for multiplex sector.

With fiscal incentives being offered depending upon the scale of investments, Punjab government's new industrial policy offers exemption from VAT, electricity duty, stamp duty, property tax for various industrial verticals including manufacturing, textiles, agro and food processing and electronics sectors.

Arora said that Punjab government officials had indicated that any company investing more than Rs 100 crore in the state would get special incentives.

"We wanted to complete our Rs 100 crore investments in the state and we have done that. Now we want to see Punjab government doling out some incentives," he said.

"We are open towards making more investments into the state. We had shown our commitment of making Rs 100 cr investments. Now the state government should dole out certain incentives and we (will) make new investments in the state," he added.

He said PVR Cinemas has invested Rs 120 crore in Punjab on multiplexes in last three years.

The company now boasts of around 40 screens in the state including 18 in Ludhiana, 4 each in Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar and 9 in Mohali.