JOIN USNamma Metro to have posh restrooms for commuters
With worries over obtaining safety certificate almost over, revenue generation is now the focus of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). It is now doing everything to earn those extra bucks.
BMRCL has called for tenders inviting private players to build ‘pay and use’ toilets at the Metro station premises and allow them the rights of advertisement, outside as well as inside the restrooms. So, don’t be surprised to read those catchy tags and see illustrations on each and every item, from walls to handles of the doors, at the restrooms. BMRCL, readying for the commissioning of Reach-1 (Byappanahalli-MG Road), wants the restrooms to sport an entirely new look. It has invited proposals to build ‘world-class’ pay-and-use restrooms.
BMRCL wants the restrooms designed, built, owned, operated, maintained and transferred at the four locations on the Reach-1, with two of them on M G Road. The two stations on MG Road will be below the viaduct near Anil Kumble Circle and next to the Metro station, while the other two will be next to Ulsoor and Swami Vivekananda stations.
The party, building the restrooms, will have to pay a one-time concession fee of Rs 50 lakh each for the 85 sq mt restrooms on MG Road, besides paying Rs 50,000 as licence fee every month. The concession fee and licence fee for the other two restrooms (59 sq mt each) have been fixed at Rs 35 lakh and Rs 30,000, respectively.
Through sponsorship
BMRCL has said the concessionaire can, besides facilitating advertisements on the exteriors and interiors of the toilet blocks, can explore utilising high-end branded items like commodes, washbasins, doors, tiles, taps, mirrors, among other things, on commercial terms with the manufacturing companies or through sponsorship.
BMRCL said studies have shown that advertising in public restrooms can get undivided attention for a couple of minutes. This is a boon, at a time when it is difficult to take ads to the specific consumers. Further, Metro has claimed that the ridership on the network will be about one-and-a-half million a day.
The stations are located at prime locations, with at least 5,000 commuters boarding and alighting at each station, making them a lucrative option for advertisers and businessmen.
However, nothing specific has been discussed on how much the operator of the restrooms can collect from the commuters/users. Whether or not the businessman will be left with the liberty of collecting fees from users is a question that needs to be answered.