Rs 1,000 cr fun park in MP to come up in 2 years

International Amusement Ltd, the parent company of Appu Ghar, New Delhi, has proposed to set up an amusement park in Madhya Pradesh. The park will be known as Mega Tourism City and will come up in Indore with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore in a phased manner.

The State Project Implementation Clearance Board (PICB) has cleared the project "in principle" and has necessary support to the company.

"The company has plans to acquire land on its own for the project. The board (PICB) has given in-principle approval for the project and so that it can go smoothly on necessary clearances. The company has proposed to set up a golf course, mega shopping mall, multiplex, resort, budget hotel, arrival plaza and other similar facilities," a government source who participated in the Board meet told Business Standard.

The project will take shape within two years and the investment will come in a phased manner, the source said, adding, "the company has plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore."

Although company has been assured of offering all benefits in accordance with entertainment policy, the state policy has no provisions for amusement parks. It only offers concessions to certain category cinemas to a maximum limit of Rs 5 lakh.

Further Industry Policy 2004 also silent about amusement parks despite it falls under mega investment proposal.

Despite tall claims of state government of 'Single Table" clearance policy, an amusement park developer need clearance from state apex committee, PICB, State Pollution Control Board, District administrative officers, local self government officials, Town and Country Planning Department, District collector, sub-divisional magistrate and lower rank land officials.

The Board has also framed a policy that the board will not acquire land for private companies on the choice basis. "Either companies will have to make their own arrangements or they will have to accept whatever is offered by the state government," it said.

Another amusement park, to be created with an investment of Rs 60 crore, proposed by Subhash Chandra promoted ZEE Group Company Pan India Paryatan Ltd. failed to take off since the bureaucrats reportedly allocated a land area at higher prices.

The proposal is still hanging in balance despite the company has reportedly made several request on land issue.