The West Bengal government is planning to open a single window for processing requests to shoot movies in the state - a move which will spare the producers from knocking at doors of multiple agencies.
The move is in line with the government's policy to enable the entertainment industry to have a strong footprint in the state and also to promote film-tourism.
At present film producers are required to take permissions from the police, local civic bodies, owners of land, power department and several other agencies to be able to shoot a movie.
"No more running from pillar to post to shoot a film," state tourism minister Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury told PTI.
"Not only that. The Tourism department will see to it that the the infrastructure in the shooting sites is upgraded so that film units are provided with adequate accommodation, restaurant facilities, roads, healthcare, shopping plaza and transport," Chowdhury said.
The minister points out that as part of a broader plan to encourage the entertainment industry, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already taken an initiative to set up film cities in the state.
However, in case of a shooting plan in the Kolkata Port area, film units must take permission from the KoPT. For shooting in New Town at Rajarhat, permission from the HIDCO is a must, Chowdhury said.
He said that the present lengthy process for obtaining permission from different agencies takes up a lot of time, causes anxiety and escalates budget of a film.
