Metro to offer space at its stations to earn revenues

Outlets to serve commuters' needs, help BMRCL break even

From daycare centres and hypermarkets to business incubation centres and e-commerce outlets, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is set to provide space for a variety of commuters daily requirements. This will fetch BMRCL roughly Rs 25 lakh a month from five Metro stations.

This is the potential source of non-fare box revenue for the BMRCL since it may take several decades to achieve a breakeven of its Rs 13,500-crore investment on Namma Metro Phase I.
In the first phase, BMRCL has earmarked 35,000 sq ft commercial space for retail outlets at Baiyappanahalli, Swami Vivekananda Road, Indiranagar, Halasuru and Trinity Metro stations.

“We were waiting for the ridership to go up. About one lakh passengers take the east-west corridor everyday and we expect more than 5 lakh commuters daily after the entire Phase I project is ready. Meanwhile, we plan to provide commercial space at stations between Mysuru Road and Magadi Road next month,” a BMRCL official told Deccan Herald. The BMRCL has allowed 29 types of retail outlets at these stations keeping in mind the daily needs of commuters going to work and back. Besides, the spaces are carefully chosen without compromising on security, commuters’ circulation and infrastructure required for running the retail outlet, BMRCL officials said.

The permitted activities include start-up companies, e-commerce, food outlets, hyper markets, showrooms, bakery, money exchange, laundry, pharmacy and fresh fruit outlets. There is also a space for take-away outlets that provide food on the go of any cuisine including bakery items. However, consuming food on the Metro is not allowed.

Start-ups at Namma Metro

There is good news for start-ups. To encourage new entrants to set up units within Namma Metro stations, the tender does not count the previous experience except that the bidder should have financial capacity to commence and successfully run a business. In addition, BMRCL has relaxed networth criteria, while startups should be incorporated under the Indian Companies Act and registered with the Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Department.

There would be a business incubation centre, a workspace designed to support startups or a business in its early stage of development and can include space for incubators, accelerators and coworking spaces. To support businesses during start-up phase, micro and small businesses to work alongside but not with one another, meeting areas with shared reception and facilities will be provided.