The Hindu : New Delhi News : Metro stations to go commercial

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Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008
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Metro stations to go commercial

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

DMRC will lease out spaces at stations along the Indraprastha-Noida line

Photo: V. Sudershan

March of metro: Work in progress on the Indraprastha-Noida line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

NEW DELHI: With a major component of its revenue earnings coming from property development, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will lease out spaces for advertising and running shops at stations along the Indraprastha-Noida Sector 32 City Centre line.

According to DMRC officials, one-fourth of the metro railway’s earnings comprises revenue earned from leasing out commercial spaces, advertising and construction of malls.

In 2006-2007, the company generated a total revenue of Rs.542.78 crore from operations, real estate, consultancy and other sources. “The details are yet to be worked out, but property development at Mayur Vihar Phase I, Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension, Botanical Garden and City Centre metro stations has been planned. Stations will have wall-mounted advertisements and shops,” said a DMRC official.

While the deadline for completion of the 8.1-km Indraprastha-New Ashok Nagar stretch is June 2009, the 7-km New Ashok Nagar-Noida stretch is expected to be complete by 2011.

“Once the lines become operational, traffic on the line that connects Delhi to Noida is expected to go up about 53,000 per day by 2011. And given the pace of work on the two stretches, work is expected to be completed well in time,” say officials.

The Indraprastha-Noida Sector 32 City Centre line will have 12 stations. “Stations have been planned at Yamuna Bank, Games Village, Mayur Vihar Phase I, Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension, New Ashok Nagar, Noida Sectors 15, 16 and18, Botanical Garden, Golf Course and Sector 32 City Centre,” the official add.

Officials point out that civil work at most of the 12 stations is 50 per cent to 65 per cent complete. “Except for the New Ashok Nagar station, which was re-inducted later to the alignment, civil work at these stations is complete by about 50 per cent to 60 per cent,” said one official.

An agreement was signed between Noida Authority and DMRC for extension of the Delhi metro to Noida in April 2006. “DMRC will extend the Indraprastha-Yamuna Bank-New Ashok Nagar corridor to Noida territory for the length of about 7 km terminating near the City Centre in Sector 32. The total cost of this stretch will be Rs.611 crore, which does not include the cost of land and rolling stock required for the work,” the official added.

Parking facilities will be available at all the stations of the line till New Ashok Nagar and in Noida at Botanical Garden and City Centre stations. “Travelling to Akshardham Temple will also become easier since it stands right next to the Commonwealth Games Village station. The Sector 32 metro station will be integrated with light railway transport that is being planned in Noida,” said the official.

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