Animation centre caught in delays

New Delhi: The much-awaited National Centre of Excellence in animation, visual effects, gaming and comics, scheduled to come up Mumbai, is likely to be delayed. Though the Union information and broadcasting ministry had proposed to make it functional from 2018-19 it is now likely to be delayed as the I&B minister Smriti Irani is understood to have sought some clarification on the project. 

Sources stated that the minister is seemingly keen on the involvement of more experts in the field so that the proposed Asian centre, which will be the biggest in Asia, evolves into a world-class facility. The proposed NCOE is expected come up on the 20-acre land in the Film City in the country’s financial capital on the PPP (public private partnership) model. 

Sources said the Maharashtra government has already allocated 20-acre land for the purpose. NCOE will be the joint venture between the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. A fund of Rs 167.5 crore has been allotted for the project and the NBCC, a PSU, will construct the project building.