BMC Approves ₹20 Crore Rent for Film City Land Used by Goregaon-Mulund Link Road Tunnel Project

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved around Rs 20 crore as provisional rent for Film City land being used for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) twin-tunnel project. The payment will compensate for revenue losses faced by Film City as construction work affects shooting locations and other operational areas.

Film City Land Used for Major Road Project

Around 1.6 kilometers of the GMLR tunnel alignment passes through Film City in Goregaon. Construction activity has affected several shooting grounds, while Josh Maidan and Joker Maidan are also being used temporarily for project-related work.

The BMC will pay the Film City Corporation for the land occupied during construction. The proposal was placed before the civic Standing Committee, where members raised questions about why the municipal corporation should bear the cost for land used by a major public infrastructure project.

Film City Faces Revenue Losses During Construction

Film City Corporation has estimated potential losses of about Rs 174.12 crore because of the disruption caused by the GMLR project. Since Film City earns a major share of its revenue through shooting rentals, the loss of shooting locations has directly affected its income.

To support the tunnel construction, the BMC is also spending around Rs 20 crore on temporary arrangements, including the use of Josh Maidan and Joker Maidan, until March 2029.

The civic administration said the payment is intended to compensate Film City for the income it is expected to lose while the land remains unavailable for regular shooting activities.

Corporators Raise Questions Over ₹20 Crore Payment

The proposed rent led to a discussion among Standing Committee members.

Shiv Sena leader Yamini Jadhav questioned why the BMC should pay compensation when the GMLR is a public infrastructure project designed to improve connectivity across Mumbai.

NCP corporator Saeeda Khan also questioned the payment, noting that Film City land was originally allotted by the government at subsidized rates. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi raised similar concerns about the compensation arrangement.

BMC Explains Reason Behind Film City Compensation

Additional Municipal Commissioner Avinash Dhakane explained that Film City's main source of revenue is the rental income it receives from film and television productions.

Because several shooting grounds have been affected by GMLR construction, Film City is expected to lose significant revenue during the project period. According to the civic administration, the Rs 20 crore payment is therefore compensation for the temporary loss of use and revenue rather than a regular income-generating payment to Film City.

Dhakane also highlighted the importance of Film City for regional-language productions, including Marathi films, which rely on its facilities for shooting.

After considering the explanation, the Standing Committee approved the proposal.

GMLR Twin Tunnels to Improve Mumbai Connectivity

The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road is one of Mumbai's major connectivity projects. It includes two three-lane tunnels connecting Film City in Goregaon East with Amar Nagar in Mulund West.

The tunnels are being constructed below the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and are expected to create a faster east-west connection between the western and eastern suburbs.

For the ongoing work, the BMC is using a roughly 1,600-meter-long and 10-meter-wide strip of land within Film City. Josh Maidan and Joker Maidan have also been temporarily taken over to support construction activities, including the storage of tunnel boring machine (TBM) components and excavated material.

Infrastructure Work Balances Development and Film City Operations

The Rs 20 crore payment highlights the temporary impact of major infrastructure development on existing public and commercial activities. While the GMLR project is expected to strengthen Mumbai's road connectivity, the BMC has also approved compensation to address the financial impact on Film City during construction.

The arrangement will allow the tunnel project to continue while recognizing Film City's revenue losses from the temporary use of its land and shooting facilities.