In a move to redefine its social infrastructure, the Jharkhand government has recently signed a MoU with the Carnival Group that runs Carnival Cinemas—one of the largest cinema chains in the country.
The group will set up 75 theatre-cum-recreation zones in 18 of the state's 24 districts.
The MoU was signed during the Kolkata leg of Momentum Jharkhand—an ongoing sales pitch in metros to attract entrepreneurs before the global summit in Ranchi in February 2017. This move is part of the state government's initiative to bring a cosmopolitan environment, boost employment opportunities and woo global investors to the state.
As per the pact signed between the State Urban Development Department Secretary A.K. Singh and Carnival Group Chairman Shrikant Bhasi, the theatre-cum- recreation zones will comprise a multiplex, food court, retail and gaming zones.
“There are many options in Jharkhand like entertainment, tourism, food processing, IT sectors with good investment potential. We are trying to address each sector in a phased manner to attract investment,” Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said while addressing the delegates at the investment promotion event.
Das spoke for over 30 minutes about the resurgent Jharkhand’s potential and prospects and dismissed Maoism as a “finished ideology”.
Over 500 delegates, including Carnival Group Chairman Bhasi, ITC COO Sanjiv Puri, Coal India Ltd Chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya, Bandhan Bank MD Chandrashekhar Ghosh, FICCI West Bengal State Council Chairman Gaurav Swarup and Century Plyboards (India) MD Sajjan Bhajanka, were present at the event.
A Carnival Group spokesperson said they are currently busy with district surveys and will launch one-point leisure and lifestyle hangouts for youths and families. “In the process of developing green field projects, we may take up additional existing infrastructure such as spacious loss making single-screens to remodel them and make it viable. According to the MoU, we have two years from today to start the work at the ground level”.
