Union govt releases new SOP, allows 100% seating capacity in cinema halls from 1 Feb

Jan. 31: Good news for cine lovers! In a fresh order issued on Sunday, the union government said cinema halls and movie theatres can operate with 100 per cent capacity from Tuesday. Releasing the latest SOP for the functioning of the movie halls and theatres with full occupancy, the Centre suggested digital booking of tickets, staggered show timings and longer intervals. The SOP also stated that there should be “proper crowd management in the parking lots and outside the premises and physical distancing norms shall be ensured”.

Sufficient time interval between successive screenings on a single screen as well as on various screens in a multiplex shall be provided to ensure row-wise staggered entry and exit of the audience, the SOP says. According to the SOPs, films cannot be exhibited in containment zones. Individual states and union territories meanwhile may consider proposing additional measures as per their field assessment.

Good news for Cinema lovers:

Today, Issued the revised SOP for the film exhibition, 100% occupancy will be allowed in theatres from 1st February, but all @MoHFW_INDIA #COVID19 guidelines will have to be followed.https://t.co/5vfZtAoHXW@MIB_India pic.twitter.com/89qZpSiMhq

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) January 31, 2021

Inside the cinema hall, the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30°C and the relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70%. Re-circulation of air to be avoided to the extent possible and intake of fresh air and cross-ventilation should be ensured as much as possible. Proper sanitisation and cleaning of the premises should be carried out by the staff and employees of the theatres and cinema halls and the employees should wear a face mask at all times.

The purchase of tickets at the box office shall be open throughout the day and advance booking shall be allowed to avoid crowding at the sale counters. A sufficient number of counters at the box office shall be opened with adequate physical distancing norms, to prevent crowding during physical booking of tickets.

Various big movies will now be able to open in theatres with a bigger audience which stalled their release due to the pandemic. The Producers Guild of India, a prominent film body, also welcomed the decision.

Click here for detail SOP