Within two days of holding a meeting with the Tollywood biggies over the issues concerning the film industry, particularly cinema ticket pricing, YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has begun the exercise for the shifting of Telugu film industry to the state.
According to sources, the Jagan government has identified Visakhapatnam, Rajahmahendravaram and Kurnool as the focal points for the development of infrastructure for film industry, since they have the ideal locations for shootings and transport facilities.
Accordingly, the chief minister is learnt to have directed district collectors of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Kurnool to identify lands and acquire them for setting up of film studios by potential private investors. The collectors have been asked to create a land bank for the same.
These lands would be handed over to the AP State Film and Theatre Development Corporation for development.
After the lands are acquired and developed as per the master plan, the government would call for bids from the private parties under build, operate and transfer (BOT) method.
The government would first call the developers for expression of interest to construct studios on BOT basis. The lands would also be auctioned for private individuals who come forward for establishment of studios.
Meanwhile, the high-level committee constituted by the state government to look into the finalisation of cinema tickets, would hold its meeting on Monday and finalise its report.
Based on the report, the government would issue the GO on the cinema ticket pricing by this month end.
It is learnt the government has also decided to allow screening of five shows in cinema theatres, the first show at 8 am and the last show at 8 pm.
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