Maharashtra gives Coldplay 75 per cent rent waiver

To pay only Rs 2 crore instead of Rs 8 crore for using BKC venue.

Following much deliberation, the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis-headed Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Wednesday decided to give 75 per cent concession on rent for the venue at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), where Global Citizen will organise the Coldplay concert on November 19.

However, opposition leader and activists have slammed the government’s decision to give the concession on rent.

Confirming the development, Mr Fadnavis said, “We have decided to support the social awareness campaign promoted by Global Citizen. We would give concession on the venue’s rent for the concert scheduled to be held next month.” The concert organisers would have to pay only 25 per cent of the total rent amount for MMRDA ground at BKC,” confirmed metropolitan commissioner (MMRDA) U.P.S. Madan.

The development means the organisers would have to pay Rs 2 crore as rent instead of Rs 8 crore for conducting the event on 150-lakh square metre MMRDA ground. The ground has been booked for three days. The stage would be set up on November 18 and dismantled on November 20, informed a MMRDA official.

According to the MMRDA, it charges rent of Rs 8 per sq m for a single day of any programme that’s scheduled. In addition, it charges Rs 4.5 per sq m for each day that the organiser uses the ground to prepare for the event, which includes setting the stage and erecting or dismantling the stage before and after the programme.

The Asian Age had on October 15 reported about Global Citizen and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) writing a letter to MMRDA requesting to waive off the venue’s rent. Tickets for the Coldplay concert have been available on bookmyshow.com from September 12. The tickets range from Rs 25, 000 to Rs 5 lakh. This exorbitant price range, incidentally, resulted in people taking a dig at the organisers and kicking up a social media storm. However, anyone organising an event for social awareness, gets 70 per cent discount depending on the ticket prices.

The MMRDA had earlier lost revenue of Rs 21 crore as rent after the MIDC refused to pay the same for using MMRDA ground during the Make in India Week. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “If the government is supporting international concerts and giving concession at the cost of revenue just because the organisers are promoting social awareness, it should also give concessions to Indian artists and support and motivate them to do social work.”

RTI activist Anil Galgali said, “Why should the government lose revenue just because people are promoting social awareness. The revenue generated by renting out the MMRDA ground, is after all used for the betterment of public infrastructure.”