Cinema halls set to reopen at a higher seating capacity

Indian cinema halls had started functioning with 50 per cent seating capacity in October after a seven-month lull due to the pandemic. And on Wednesday evening, the Union Home Ministry issued a new order regarding Covid-19 protocols and shared that theatres will now be allowed to operate with a higher seating capacity.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting will



soon issue a revised SOP for cinema halls and theatres. The new guidelines regarding Covid-19 protocols will be effective from February 1 onwards.

The news was met with a lot of positivity by film distributors and theatre owners. Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan called the decision fantastic news for exhibitors as 50 per cent occupancy was a barrier for big releases.