New Delhi: To enhance commuter convenience, National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has invited bids for licensing of commercial spaces on the ground floor of Sarai Kale Khan Namo Bharat station on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor.Around 818 square metres of space across eight identified locations can be used for a variety of commuter-focused facilities, such as food and beverage outlets, cafes, convenience stores, service centres, pod services and other retail purposes.“The inventory comprises a mix of bare and built-up spaces ranging from compact units of 17 square metres to larger spaces of up to 247 square metres. The spaces are being offered on an “as is where is” basis for licence periods ranging from nine to 15 years,” said an official of NCRTC, which executed the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut rapid rail corridor.The official said availability of such integrated facilities within the station footprint would save time for commuters and make their journeys safer, more comfortable and convenient while also strengthening non-fare revenue streams. “The outlets will also serve residents and visitors in the surrounding area by providing easy access to a range of retail and convenience services,” he added.Sarai Kale Khan, one of the key Namo Bharat stations, is emerging as a major multimodal transport hub. “In addition to its role as a key regional transit hub, the station precinct is also emerging as an important transit-oriented development node, with considerable opportunities for commercial growth and mixed-use development,” said the official.In Jan, bids were invited for commercial spaces at Ghaziabad RRTS station for similar facilities. Bids were also invited in May for selecting co-branding partners for exclusive semi-naming/co-branding rights at 21 stations along the Namo Bharat corridor.The entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor became operational on Feb 22 this year. With a design speed of 180 kmph and a maximum operational speed of 160 kmph, Namo Bharat trains take 54 minutes to Begumpul and 58 minutes from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to reach Modipuram in Meerut.
