Zee Telefilms outlines plans for Technicians' Studio before CM

Kolkata, Oct 16 (UNI) Zee Telefilms Limited today presented before West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, its turnaround proposal for the Tollywood's ailing Technicians' Studio with the company perhaps remaining the only bidder for the multi-crore rupee project.

Three group representatives, who arrived at the state Secretariat here this evening, met the Chief Minister at his chamber and presented their plans for modernisation and running of the Studio through an hour-long power point presentation.

Though the Company officials refused to comment on their presentation, official sources later told UNI that the Chief Minister had viewed the presentation with avid interest but did not make any comment.

Asked whether the Chief Minister had again referred the issue to the high power Technical Committee, formed by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) for further stuying the issue and necessary recommendations, the sources replied in the affirmative without giving further details.

The committee comprised KMDA officials, a number of film personalities and other experts in the movie world, the sources said.

Meanwhile, informed sources said following today's presentation the expert committee would go through the technical concept as well as the financial viability of the project which initially drew huge protests from the Tollywood-based 'Aritstes Forum'.

Zee Telefilms is the only company to have submitted a bid for revamping the five-decade-old Studio although the tender papers were also purchased by the Bengal Unitech and the Merlin Group.

Towards the end of July, the state government had invited Expressions of Interest from private companies for modernisation and running of Technicians' Studio.

The government had been incurring huge losses in maintaining the Studio. The state government spends Rs 36 to Rs 40 lakh on salaries of the employees alone.

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