Hyderabad: Ticket prices in multiplexes and single screen theatres across the state have remained unchanged. Theatre managements made clear that the ticket price would remain unchanged as the government has only slashed GST to reduce the tax burden on theatres.
The Centre has reduced GST paid by multiplexes from 28 per cent to 18 per cent and of single screen theatres from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.
But the GST Council, in its 31st meeting on December 22, had recommended reducing GST on tickets. The GST rate on tickets above Rs 100 was to be reduced from 28 to 18 per cent and on cinema tickets up to Rs 100, from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.
No theatre management was ready to talk about the unchanged ticket prices. Staff in all major multiplexes spread across the city, said that they were unaware of the issue. Similar was the case with single screen theatres.
Telangana Film Development Corporation chairman P. Ram Mohan Rao said that there would be no change in ticket price and government has only provided relief to theatre managements (both multiplexes and single screens).
He said that the tax burden which has to be paid by theatre managements to government has been reduced but ticket prices across the state will remain unchan-ged.
Mr Somesh Kumar, principal secretary, commercial taxes, said that ticket prices would be fixed by the home department and his department would only ensure the implementation of GST slabs. He said that people should be benefited by the government's decision to reduce the GST. He said his department will have a meeting with theatre managements regarding revised GST slabs.
Mr Rajiv Trivedi, principal secretary, home, said that he would conduct a review on the issue. He said that the revision of ticket prices will be made only after comparing the ticket prices in other cities.
According to calculations, the difference on a Rs 100 ticket is about Rs 4. Theatre owners said they were earlier paying 14 per cent entertainment tax which had been raised to 28 per cent. This has been reduced, and it would not reflect in ticket prices, they said.
