‘Act on improving Film City’s roads’

The condition of the roads in Film City. Pic/Anurag Ahire

As if the pothole-ridden roads in the city and suburbs were not enough, those working at Film City also have to contend with the roads there. Artistes and others involved in shooting at the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagri, known as Film City, in Goregaon, use these roads full of potholes. MNS leader Ameya Khopkar has criticised the Film City administration for the same.

On Tuesday, Khopkar, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader and president of its Cinema Wing tweeted about the bad roads in Film City. He said, "Many artistes and people who frequently visit Film City for shoots informed me about the potholes and uneven road surfaces inside it. They also told me that there are some locations where the roads are in such poor condition that driving on them damages cars and results in back problems. I hope the authorities pay attention to this. I will meet Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Minister of Cultural Affairs Sudhir Mungantiwar to discuss this if the Film City administration does not fix the roads."

Film City is spread across 500 acres and has 42 outdoor shooting locations and 16 studio floors. On a daily basis thousands of people come here from the suburbs to shoot TV serials and films. The Managing Director of the Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation Limited (MFSCDC) looks after the administration of Film City.

Activist and film maker Ashoke Pandit said, "The roads in Film City are in pathetic condition with potholes and uneven surfaces. We really can't understand why the machinery which runs Film City is not sorting out this serious issue which causes inconvenience to people on a daily basis. There is so much income Film City gets, so we expect better facilities from the authorities. The roads pose danger to daily commuters not just during the day but also at nights.

Talking to mid-day, Minister for Cultural Affairs Sudhir Mungantiwar said, "It is true the condition of some roads inside Film City is bad but this issue persists for 7-8 years. As per information I have, all the roads inside Film City will be reconstructed. The other issue there is that of hutments and encroachments. We are preparing an integrated plan for development of Film City at par with international standards."