MCD drafts film shooting policy for its areas, all landfills out of bounds

NEW DELHI: Encouraging film producers to choose locations for shooting in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) areas over others, the civic body has come out with a unified draft policy proposing highly competitive rates.
However, shooting will no longer be permitted at three landfills of Delhi – Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla – due to safety reasons as per the proposed policy, said officials.These garbage mountains have been part of many web series shot in the recent past.
According to the proposed policy, Rs 15,000 will be uniformly charged for eight hours of shooting at any MCD location including heritage sites, hospitals, parks etc. These will be in addition to administrative and security charges and GST.
Further, parking charges for vanity or other vans will be as per existing rates and MCD will also depute a licensing inspector with two civic defence guards at the film shooting location for security purposes.
“The revised policy has been proposed after a review meeting with the producers in Delhi under the chairmanship of an additional commissioner. During the meeting, the majority had flagged the matter of high shooting rates in MCD areas. In addition to this, the unreasonably high parking charges for the vehicles and vanity vans of the film crew further dissuaded people,” stated an official.
The stakeholders proposed that the fee slab may be fixed on a differential basis based on the category of shooting such as web series, film, photoshoot etc. “Considering the time span of 15 days taken by the Delhi Tourism to issue permission is too long and it should be reduced substantially,” stated a stakeholder.
At present, MCD is charging Rs 75,000 for a day and for a landfill (Ghazipur) Rs 2 lakh per day. Security deposit is Rs 25,000 and administrative charge is different in north, south and east Delhi.
“After deliberation with the stakeholders, it was decided that the Rs 15,000 (for a slot of eight hours) irrespective of the nature of building or area chosen for shooting will be paid. Then Rs 2,000 would be taken as one-time administrative charges for each shooting permission irrespective of number of shooting days and applicable GST will be charged. The rate of fee for permission for 24 hours (one full day) shall be fixed as Rs 25,000,” stated the proposal, to be placed in the house on Wednesday.
Officials claimed the proposed charges are much less than those levied by DMRC, DDA and NDMC.
As far as the parking charges for crew vehicles are concerned, applicable rates would be collected for vanity vans and other vehicles. Same charges would be transferred to the remunerative project cell directly, said the official.
“Over and above all these proposed norms, the MCD commissioner will reserve all the rights to modify the rates or decide so for any particular location. Further, change of tenure or date may be allowed by the commissioner or any officer authorised by him. A system generated permission will be issued online from the Delhi Tourism and transport development corporation’s e-film clearance system,” said the proposal.