Andhra Pradesh Assembly Passes Bill For Online Sale Of Movie Tickets

Andhra Pradesh: The AP Cinemas Regulation Amendment Bill 2021 was passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday, 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 government 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, unauthorised shows, and even big disparities in tax and film collections.

To keep a check on tax evasion and improve the movie theatre experience in the state, the government has decided to adopt a transparent online ticketing system, similar to that used by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and the Indian Railways, he added.

According to him, 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.

All stakeholders, including producers, distributors, and exhibitors, have praised the decision, according to the minister, but a few political parties are still politicising the subject, even though they are unrelated to it. 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.