Unified portal to grant licences for amusement activities in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena on Monday launched a unified portal for amusement activities, which is likely to overhaul, simplify and unify the licensing process for venues, including amusement parks, auditoriums and video game parlours, in Delhi.
The portal has been developed by the licensing unit of Delhi Police, in collaboration with Municipal Corporation of Delhi and National Informatics Centre.Officials said it was a transformative platform aimed at enhancing the efficiency of licensing processes across the capital.
“This initiative builds upon the success of the modified unified portal for licensing of eating and lodging establishments, previously launched by the LG in 2023, to now encompass performances at licensed and unlicensed premises, amusement parks, auditoriums and video game parlours,” the LG office said in a statement.
Officials said the unified portal would streamline the application process, significantly reducing paperwork and simplifying submission requirements. By integrating various regulatory authorities such as municipal bodies, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police onto a single platform, the portal will offer a seamless coordination and real-time processing of applications, they claimed.
The applications can be filled up online now from anywhere and it will go simultaneously to all the agencies concerned for efficient processing, an official explained. Automated updates and notifications to applicants on their application status, easy correction of deficiencies online on a real-time basis, transparent and streamlined approval process ensuring prompt statutory clearances are some other features that represent a significant step towards enhancing ease-of-doing-business in the amusement sector, supporting Delhi’s vibrant entertainment industry, the official added.
Speaking on the occasion, LG said that “transformative strides” had been made in rationalising, demystifying and easing the regulation and licensing procedures and processes during the last two years. The launch of a unified portal for eating and lodging establishments, enhanced timings for bars and restaurants, open air dining and permission to establishments to operate on a 24x7 basis are other such initiatives.
“By embracing technology, we have today launched this unified portal for amusement activities, which will overhaul, simplify and unify the licensing process for venues, including amusement parks, auditoriums and video game parlours,” he added.
To rationalise and ease statutory requirements for events, the ministry of home affairs had last year notified regulations for Licencing of Places of Public Amusement and Public Amusement Performances (other than cinema), 2023, which had done away with the requirement of obtaining ‘certification of suitability’ before the event. This ensured that artistes, poets and comedians performing in public did not have to get their scripts vetted by police before the event in the capital.
“This provision was not only archaic but was akin to censoring. The entire chapter on certificate of suitability has been removed from the regulations,” said an official.