4 days ago
In Boney Kapoor's Film City project, red flags show up before muhurat shot
Noida: Even before construction starts, Film City's troubles don't seem to end.
It took a long time to find a developer for one of the Yogi govt's pet projects after global contracts failed to draw bidders.
Eventually, a consortium led by producer Boney Kapoor, who is in partnership with the Bhutani Group, bagged it.
Kapoor last week submitted his first layout, which has drawn multiple objections from govt.
The primary concern is the alteration of designated green areas, originally meant for parks, playgrounds and multi-purpose open spaces. The developers have proposed to construct film studios with accommodation and related facilities on this land.
CEO Arun Vir Singh told TOI that as per the land use plan approved by UP govt, 15% of the total project area—the first phase of the project is being developed on 230 acres in Sector 21—must be a green zone. "Right now, the layout is not in accordance with the sanctioned land use. Green areas have not been shown properly and are fragmented," he said.
Officials said there was a lack of clarity on the green belt in the plan. Instead of consolidated and clearly marked zones, green areas have been shown only along roads on the map, they said.
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The draft also includes several commercial buildings, like hotels and warehouses, within the industrial zone, which violates approved land use guidelines. The consortium has also failed to submit the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department and a structural stability certificate.
The approved land use plan for the first phase of the project allocates 155 acres for industrial purposes, including a film institute on 21 acres, and film-related infrastructure, like studios and production units, on 134 acres.
The remaining 75 acres are meant for commercial development, but only at a later stage.
Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) officials, who met Boney Kapoor and Bhutani Group CEO Ashish Bhutani on Monday to discuss objections to the draft plan, said the company has now been asked to revise and resubmit a phase-wise development plan.
"Only Phase 1, covering the industrial area, will be considered for approval right now.
The remaining Phases 2 and 3 must also be shown clearly in the updated map," Singh said.
Another senior official told TOI that no permission would be granted for commercial complexes, such as malls, hotels or resorts, unless the developer completed at least 15% of the core film-related facilities.
Kapoor, soon after meeting YEIDA officials, had announced that the Film City's groundbreaking ceremony would be held before June 30.
He also said the core infrastructure, which includes film studios and a film institute, would be developed in the first three years and the rest as per the concession agreement.
"The development of the Film City will begin with core infrastructure—including film studios and a film institute—which must be completed within three years. Once we achieve a certain level of construction of the film studios and institute, commercial development may start with YEIDA's permission," Kapoor said.
Downplaying the objections flagged by YEIDA, Ashish Bhutani said, "There has been no change in the green area, and it is intact as per the approved plan. As far as the NOC and structural stability certificate are concerned, they will be submitted to YEIDA when we seek approval for the building plans."
Bhutani said they had already rectified the issues raised by the Authority and resubmitted the plan. "We are hopeful of getting the layout sanctioned by the end of this week," he added.
