It seems passengers will have to wait for some more time for their cup of coffee at Mahatma Gandhi Road and Baiyappanahalli stations of Namma Metro.
For, the tender notification issued by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to set up coffee shops at the two stations along the Reach 1 has received no response so far. The Corporation has now extended the last date for bidding to May 16.
May 4 was fixed as the last date for bidding, when BMRCL issued the tenders in the first week of April. BMRCL is offering 45 to 70 square metres of space each to set up four shops, two each at these stations, for two years.
The bidders who succeed in getting the licence will be allowed to sell hot or cold coffee and tea, branded baked food products and confectionery and bottled beverages, including water, at these outlets.
Sources in BMRCL said that most of the bidders are concerned about the exorbitant rent fixed by BMRCL for the coffee shops. A senior official said many established coffee shops are interested to bid, but they are not sure whether they would be able to make enough profits, before the completion of the entire stretch of the corridor.
BMRCL has fixed a minimum monthly rent of Rs 1 lakh for each location of coffee shop at Mahatma Gandhi Road station and Rs 80,000 for each location at Baiyappanahalli station. Also, the bidder has to pay a non-refundable fee of Rs 10 lakh for each location at MG Road and Rs 8 lakh and Rs 6 lakh for the two locations at Baiyappanahalli.
BMRCL also plans to have stationery and novelty shops at the key stations.