The Pune Municipal Corporation is preparing to nearly double rents at five of its most-booked theatres, with the proposal citing a 13-year gap in rate revisions and rising costs of maintenance, electricity, cleaning and management. The culture department plans to place the proposal before Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram on Monday, after which it will be sent to the competent body for consideration.
The proposed revision would affect theatres that currently charge between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500 on weekdays and Rs 5,000 on Saturdays and Sundays. For theatre performances, the proposed charge is around Rs 11,000. The rates for other categories of programmes have not yet been finalised.
The proposal is being prepared in response to what PMC officials describe as financial pressure in operating the civic body’s theatres. According to the report, the administration says expenses related to repairs, maintenance, electricity, cleaning and management have increased sharply since the existing rates were set.
Dr Santosh Tengle, Deputy Commissioner of the PMC’s culture department, said the rates need to be revised because operating costs have risen. He said higher revenue would be required to provide better facilities to citizens, making revised rents necessary.
The proposed change would also move the municipal theatre system away from a single common rent structure. Different rates are planned according to the type of programme being hosted. Theatre groups would receive priority for plays and would be charged under a separate rate structure.
Separate rates are also proposed for fairs, book exhibitions, private and cultural events, and commercial programmes. This would allow the PMC to distinguish between regular theatre use and events that may have different operational requirements or revenue potential.
The five theatres included in the first phase are described as the corporation’s most-booked venues, although the report does not identify them individually. The proposal also does not specify the final charges for fairs, exhibitions, private events, cultural programmes or commercial events.
PMC officials have pointed out that the civic theatres continue to charge less than private halls. The proposed revision therefore links venue pricing to the broader challenge of keeping public cultural infrastructure financially viable while maintaining access for local performers, cultural organisations and residents.
The proposal is not yet a final rent order. It must first be placed before the municipal commissioner and then proceed to the competent body for consideration. The final rates, the programme-wise tariff structure and the date of implementation will depend on decisions taken during that process.
