Maharashtra hikes entertainment duty from multiplexes
The Maharashtra cabinet has passed the revenue department’s proposal to charge extra duty from multiplex/ cinema exhibitors, who charge up and above Rs 250 per ticket from the viewers.
It has imposed an additional 10 percent entertainment duty on movie tickets priced above Rs.250. The move is aimed at discouraging the exhibitors from arbitrarily increasing the ticket prices ahead of big movies.
The cabinet also discussed ways to ensure that the average movie buff gets to watch films at reasonable rates with family.
According to a report, Maharashtra has 549 single-screen theatres, out of which around 100 are in rural areas. These do not see a full house and often struggle to break even.
The state is also mulling permitting single-screen theaters to charge an additional Re.1 service tax if they upgrade their technology, computerize ticketing and show Marathi cinema during prime time.
