AP Cinemas Regulation Amendment Bill 2021 passed by Andhra Pradesh Assembly

The AP Cinemas Regulation Amendment Bill 2021 was passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly yesterday, opening the way for a state-run online movie ticketing system. The legislation, according to the government, would enable the government to regulate cinema ticket pricing and prevent moviegoers from being exploited. 

The AP  Government has proposed the amendment to control ticket prices and stop the exploitation of middle-class people by some exhibitors, according to Transport Minister Perni Venkataramaiah, who submitted the Bill on behalf of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. 

He mentioned the current situation, which includes erratic ticket prices, a



high number of screenings, unauthorized shows, and even big disparities in tax and film collections. According to the Minister, the new online ticketing system would allow the public to book tickets via mobile phones instead of queuing at theatres or burning a hole in their pockets by purchasing tickets in black. 

He claimed that the Film Development Corporation (FDC) will maintain the online booking system with a dedicated payment gateway to prevent tax fraud and enable the Revenue Department to collect taxes on time and without inconsistencies. A lot of uproar and debate is going on about the AP Government's decision on the Bill.