BIG setback to Boney Kapoor’s Noida Film City project as officials object to layout plan due to…

The Bhutani Group, a consortium headed by Boney Kapoor, acquired the Noida Film City contract after international tenders for the project failed to draw any bidders.

In a major setback to Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor’s ambitious Noida Film City project, several Uttar Pradesh government officials have objected to the project’s proposed layout plan which was submitted by Kapoor last week. According to media reports, the developers’ plan includes building movie theatres, lodgings, and other amenities on green spaces that had been initially designated for parks, playgrounds, and multipurpose open areas.

YEIDA objects Bhutani Group’s layout plan

According to a report by the Times of India (TOI), officials said the layout plan was unclear about these green spaces, while noting that the green areas are not clearly defined zones, but mainly occur alongside roads, making them difficult to demarcate. Additionally, the draft layout has placed several commercial structures like hotels and warehouses in the industrial zone, which is in contravention of authorised land use guidelines, the report said.

The Bhutani Group, a consortium headed by Boney Kapoor, which acquired the Noida Film City contract after international tenders for the project failed to draw any bidders, has also not submitted a structural stability certificate or the required no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department, TOI reported.

No permission for commercial structures till…

Under the approved land use plan, 155 acres have been designated for industrial purposes in the first phase, including a film institute on 21 acres and related infrastructure, such as studios and production units, across 134 acres, while the remaining 75 acres are reserved for commercial development, to be undertaken only in later phases of the project.

“Right now, the layout is not in accordance with the sanctioned land use. Green areas have not been shown properly and are fragmented,” the report quoted Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) CEO Arun Vir Singh as saying. Singh explained that as per the UP government-approved land use plan, 15% of the total project area, specifically the first phase spanning 230 acres in Sector 2, must remain as green space.

According to another senior YEIDA official, the authority will not grant permission for commercial structures like malls, hotels, or resorts, unless at least 15% of the core film-related infrastructure is completed by the developer.

Groundbreaking ceremony before June 30, says Boney Kapoor

On Monday, Boney Kapoor and Bhutani Group CEO Ashish Bhutani met YEIDA official to sort out the objections, who have asked the developers to submit a revised, phase-wise development plan. “Only Phase 1, covering the industrial area, will be considered for approval right now. The remaining Phases 2 and 3 must also be shown clearly in the updated map,” Singh said.

After the meeting, Boney Kapoor announced that the groundbreaking ceremony of the Noida Film City project would take place before June 30, 2025, stating that development will start with building of core infrastructure, including a film institute and film studios, “which must be completed within three years”.

“Once we achieve a certain level of construction of the film studios and institute, commercial development may start with YEIDA’s permission,” Kapoor said.

“There has been no change in the green area, and it is intact as per the approved plan. As far as the NOC and structural stability certificate are concerned, they will be submitted to YEIDA when we seek approval for the building plans.” He added that the developers had already addressed the Authority’s concerns and resubmitted the plan. “We are hopeful of getting the layout sanctioned by the end of this week,” Bhutani said.

“There has been no change in the green area, and it is intact as per the approved plan. As far as the NOC and structural stability certificate are concerned, they will be submitted to YEIDA when we seek approval for the building plans,” Ashish Bhutani said while responding to YEIDA’s objections.

Bhutani asserted they have already addressed YEIDA’s concerns and resubmitted the plan, and expressed hope that the new layout will be sanctioned by the end of this week.