Baramulla: Baramulla and Handwara saw the return of cinema halls after 33 years on Saturday, with LG Manoj Sinha raising the curtains on two 100-seater complexes in the twin north Kashmir towns.

The inaugurations are part of a continuing drive by the Sinha-led UT administration to reopen cinemas shuttered by terrorism over the past few decades, revive the cinema-going culture, expand entertainment options and buttress the message of normality in the aftermath of the August 2019 abrogation of J&K’s special status.

Last year, Sinha inaugurated cinema halls in Shopian and Pulwama. A multiplex had come up in Srinagar, too. The LG has vowed to set up a theatre in every district, saying the people of the region should have the “big-screen experience”. Jammu & Kashmir was once a cinema haven and a setting for many iconic Bollywood films.

At the Baramulla and Handwara inaugurations on Saturday, Sinha congratulated the people on the “momentous occasion” and described theatres as a “reflection of J&K’s growing aspirations”. The cinema halls, built under public-private partnership, also have a cafe, conference and seminar facilities for the youth. They will start screenings soon with “Pathaan”.

Baramulla had two cinema halls till 1990, Rigina and the army-run Thimaya, but these had to be wound up after the outbreak of insurgency. The LG inaugurated development projects in Baramulla. “Baramulla is moving towards becoming an inspirational district from an aspirational district. It has made impressive strides towards development,” he said.

Reiterating the administration’s commitment to socio-economic empowerment of all through the vision of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas”, the LG said the marginalised had the “first right” to government resources.