Mumbai to Get Film and Media Hub on 150 Acres of Prasar Bharati Land in Malad
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved a proposal to establish an Integrated Film and Television Media Hub on 150 acres of land in the Malad neighborhood of Mumbai. The project will be developed through a special purpose vehicle set up jointly by the state government and Prasar Bharati to boost infrastructure for the media and entertainment industry.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Prasar Bharati, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and the Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation to facilitate the joint development.
The development will utilise 150 acres out of the total 278 acres of land owned by All India Radio in Malad. Because most of the broadcaster's transmission is shifting to FM systems, the state government plans to use the newly available space to expand the existing Film City.
The proposed media hub is set to include state-of-the-art film studios, sound stages, hospitality facilities, and IT and ITES related services. Plans also include tourism development projects and international standard film and music training centers. The state government intends to collaborate with renowned educational institutions abroad to run these training centers.
Fadnavis pointed out that the selected site is currently governed by No-Development Zone and Coastal Regulation Zone rules, which restrict development to a limited area. To facilitate complete development, the state government will provide cooperation to secure statutory permissions, alter existing rules, and make amendments to the Development Control Regulations.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to appoint a consultancy firm to prepare a pre-feasibility study and an action plan for the project. He also directed the formation of a joint working committee of officers from both institutions to speed up the technical aspects and the preparation of a Detailed Project Report. Fadnavis ordered that all components of the project and the development plan be finalised by the end of June.
The decision was taken during a meeting attended by State Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer Gaurav Dwivedi, and senior officials representing Film City and the MIDC.
