Announced about three months back, the scheme envisages leasing out the 517 acres of land for 30 years to private developers to set up film and television related infrastructure. The facilities planned include shooting locations, studios for special effects, recording and dubbing, gardens, a light and sound show, an airport, a railway station, a monorail, a cultural village, residential facilities including starred hotels and dormitories, a children's park and a film museum. This ambitious venture would require an investment of at least a billion within the next five years. The state government hasalready received 30 applications, stated Minister for Cultural Affairs, Pramod Navalkar.

But some producers and financiers are still smarting from their experiences in 1974, when the then government had taken deposits and entered into agreements for alotting land to private developers, but had backed out at the nth hour. Shakti Samanta, a member of the United Producers, said ``Our deposit of Rs 76,500 has been lying with the government since 1974. Even after entering into an agreement to allot 7.5 acres of land, the government backed out for reasons best known to it.'' Producers like B R Chopra and Ramanand Sagar - who had deposited Rs 50,000 - and Prasad Laboratory had invested huge sums hoping to get land.

However, Navalkar says the past was an `an old story'. ``We have already written to all concerned to take their money back. Some have, some haven't. And the fact that we have received 30 applicants for the new scheme is proof that it is viable. If those who had applied in 1974 come forward this time,we will give them priority,'' he assured.

The Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Coporation (MFSCDC), as Film City is formally known, is said to be running losses of Rs 2 crore every year. Over the last two years, hardly any films are being canned there, although the complex has about 15 studios, 40 shooting locations, a recording and dubbing theatre and some editing machines. Instead, it is becoming the haunt of the TV industry.

But the government is hopeful that the new scheme will make Film City the hub of film activity once more. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray recently did the bhoomi pooja for the `Arch of Fame' a gate which leads into the complex. At the function, at which Chief Minister Narayan Rane was present, Thackeray had declared that Rs 100 crore would be given towards developing Film City. But whether Bollywood will bite, remains to be seen.