Bollywood director and producer Boney Kapoor, along with his team, has given a building layout map for approval to start with the development work at the Film City project site in Noida's Sector 21, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) said.
According to a report in HT, Boney Kapoor stated that the construction work will comply with the provisions of the concession deal, which require that work on essential film infrastructure, such as studios and a film institute, begin first and be finished within three years.
The submitted layout proposal includes a big conference facility for cinematic events as well as an Indian movie museum.
A dedicated film festival zone with guest accommodations and auditoriums is also envisaged. The concept also includes artist accommodations and tiny studio spaces. The facility will also include big sound stages and a dedicated underwater filming studio.
The move came weeks after Yeida announced that approval would not be granted for construction until the layout plan was approved. On Monday, Boney Kapoor went to the authority office to get clearance for the project and spoke with Yeida authorities about the ground-breaking ceremony date.
“The authority had sought that the concessionaire first secure approvals for its core components — film studios and an institute — and then proceed with construction at the ground. The directive, issued through a letter on May 2 to Bayview Bhutani Film City Private Limited stated that construction must begin within a year of signing the concession agreement, which happened on June 27, 2024. It also said non-compliance will attract a daily penalty of ₹1.5 lakh until construction starts,” Yeida chief executive officer (CEO) Arun Vir Singh told Hindustan Times.
Yeida authorised the land use map for the 230-acre project earlier this year, and the authority made it clear that work could not begin on the ground until Bayview's specific building layouts were approved for the first phase.
It featured NOCs for parking and landscape plans that complied with the authority's construction rules.
Boney Kapoor said the ceremony for the International Film City project in Sector 21 will be conducted before June 30.
“This timeline aligns with the concession agreement signed on June 27, 2024, which mandates the commencement of construction within one year of the official allotment date,” said Boney Kapoor.
Yeida chief executive officer (CEO) Arun Vir Singh also said that there should be no deviation in the layout plan after it is approved.
"Any deviation in the layout plan will not be approved. The authority has directed the concessionaire to obtain necessary approvals for detailed parking, landscaping, horticulture work, and to develop the project in a phased manner,” said Arun.
The International Film City, a flagship initiative of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aspires to make the state a major hub for film production, media, entertainment, and tourism.
The project is located near the planned Noida International Airport on the Yamuna Expressway and covers 1,000 acres. The first phase of the project would cover 230 acres and cost around ₹1,510 crore over eight years.
Around 155 acres have been set aside for the core film sector, which will contain film production studios, sound stages, post-production facilities, and supporting infrastructure. The region is separated into four campuses. In the first phase, 75 acres will be developed into a commercial core, which will include retail spaces, office buildings, and entertainment complexes.
The Film City project is estimated to generate over 500,000 employment, both directly and indirectly, and will greatly strengthen the state's economy.
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