Mumbai: In yet another unlocking of sectors, the state government has allowed the reopening of cinema halls, multiplexes, drama theatres, yoga institutes, sports facilities like badminton and squash courts as well as indoor shooting ranges and swimming pools, which will be available only for training of sportspersons, from Thursday.

Cinema halls will reopen at 50% capacity and prohibit eatables inside while sticking to Coronavirus protocols like thermal checks, making masks mandatory at all times, and sanitisation. There will be one-seat distance between two people and the temperature inside auditoriums will be maintained between 24 and 30°C.

Theatre operators will have to stagger show timings among different screens to ensure enough time for sanitisation of seats and the rest of the area, said an official. The detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued by the cultural affairs department.

The Centre had allowed reopening of cinema halls from October 15, but the state did not take a decision till now. Multiplex owners welcomed the state circular on Wednesday. The move is a first step towards normalcy given that producers are likely to release new films only after 100% occupancy is permitted.

“Maharashtra has slowly and steadily unlocked most of the activities,” a state government official said. “The only sectors that are left to open up are places of worship and educational institutes, and a decision on those will be taken post-Diwali.”

Manoj Desai, who owns Maratha Mandir in Mumbai Central and G-7 multiplex in Bandra, said he would likely open both halls on Friday. Multiplex chain Inox launched private screenings for friends and family gatherings complete with social distancing.

“We can now take action to set the wheels in motion,” Prakash Chaphalkar, secretary of the Multiplex Association of India, said. “Theatre owners have not yet called their employees back, while some have even disconnected their electricity supply. Housekeeping staff and contractors will now be recalled. SOPs will be set in place. So business will not resume immediately. A few cinema halls inside malls may decide to open, but by and large it will take a week at least.”

Chaphalkar said producers would release new films only after theatre occupancy normalised to 100%.

“Also, do remember that the new notification prohibits eatables inside the theatres,” Chaphalkar said. “As a result of Covid-19 restrictions, I feel reopening will be very basic. Fewer screens will be populated. For instance, morning shows may be few and far between. Even at prime time, we will have to finalise which content to show. I don’t see any new movies releasing at Diwali. It is a laborious task and we are staring at a loss-making proposition for the next one month at least. We will have to entice viewers with schemes and sops and perhaps lower the admission rates.”

Nearly 10 days after the state allowed gymnasiums to open, the government allowed yoga institutes to open as well. Group cardio exercises like zumba and dance classes were not allowed.

“With yoga it is possible to keep distance between two people, but with cardio exercises like zumba and dance it is not possible to do so,” an official said.

Swimming pools have been allowed only for training of state-, national- and international-level sportspersons.

Courts of sports such as badminton, tennis and squash, and indoor shooting ranges will be allowed with physical distancing and sanitation measures.