A comprehensive system will be put in place soon to regulate and cap cinema ticket prices in multiplexes across Karnataka, assured Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday in the Legislative Council.
Responding to JD (S) member Govindaraju, the Minister said although the Congress government during its previous regime had announced in the 2017-18 Budget that uniform ticket prices will be fixed in all cinemas, it could not be implemented.
“As per the Budget announcement, there was also a Government Order on May 11, 2018. However, the order was withdrawn since there was a stay on the order. Now there is a system in place where the ticket prices of cinemas are decided by the owners of the cinemas themselves,” he said.
“We are aware that watching films in multiplexes is still beyond the reach of the middle class, as besides ticket rates, most cine-goers cannot afford to buy drinking water and snacks there. Though the government made a move to allow cine-goers to carry food and water into multiplexes, that is also not being followed. We will soon put in place a comprehensive system to regulate and bring uniformity in cinema ticket prices,” he assured.
The Home Minister, who pointed out that there were 650 single-screen cinemas in the State earlier, said, “While 100 have already been closed, 150 more are on the verge of closure due to various reasons.”
Published - March 06, 2025 10:00 pm IST
