RailEnquiry

As the first step towards commercial exploitation of the spaces in and around the metro stations, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has invited applications from national-level consultancy firms to advise them on the same.The firms will advise CMRL on ways to generate revenue from retailing commercial spaces in and around the stations.The firms should satisfy certain criteria to be considered eligible. These include having ten years of experience in transaction advisory services and execution of at least three such assignments.“It is too early to talk about it as we have just begun the process of inviting applications from firms. It may take around six months to select the firms,” said a source at CMRL.Even as stations are designed, space is usually allocated for property development within the structures.In a few stations in Delhi, there are separate structures for property development, sources at Delhi Metro Rail Limited said.People are eager to use the metro trains in Chennai as they have proved to be successful in cities like Delhi. The Delhi metro stations have ATMs, bookshops and fast food chains. Every station also has a first-aid facility.“The plight of the MRTS stations is pitiable in Chennai. This should not happen to our metro stations as well because most of us are looking forward to using it. I have been to the metro stations in Delhi and they are fabulous; I hope CMRL replicates the same here,” said R. Thangaraj, a frequent user of MRTS trains.