9 metro stns to have food kiosks this July

  • | Thursday | 28th March, 2019

CHENNAI: Come July, commuters may get to grab a quick snack or a cup of coffee before hopping on to a train as the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will be opening food kiosks and other retail outlets at nine stations. Commuters can expect shops to be opened in these spaces in another four months,” a metro rail official said. Similarly, Alandur metro has coffee and sweet shops at the street level.Underground stations like Shenoy Nagar have eateries in the non-paid area of the concourse or at ticketing level. For instance, at Koyambedu metro station, both commuters and passersby can stop at one of the gates to have a quick cup of coffee with some snacks, as kiosks have been setup closer to the road. Work is also underway to get the space allotted for commercial development at Central Metro, one of the largest metros in the city, ready.

CHENNAI: Come July, commuters may get to grab a quick snack or a cup of coffee before hopping on to a train as the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will be opening food kiosks and other retail outlets at nine stations. According to metro rail, these kiosks have been planned to bring in additional revenue as well as provide a one-stop solution to the commuter’s needs.“We have already floated tenders to select a company that can take up these empty spaces for kiosks on license basis and bring in big brands. Commuters can expect shops to be opened in these spaces in another four months,” a metro rail official said. While these kiosks may mostly have brands selling snacks and hot beverages, metro rail commuters will have to eat them at these spots itself as people will not be allowed with food items in the paid area of a metro station.As of now, these kiosks have been planned at Koyambedu, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar East, Shenoy Nagar, KMC, Nehru Park, Nandanam, Saidapet and Teynampet . The kiosks with spaces varying between 10 to 35 sqm will be set up on the street level inside the station or outside the station entrance or the parking lot.“We have planned it in such a way that even outsiders can walk in, buy whatever they want and leave,” an official said.At present, elevated stations like Koyambedu, Alandur, Vadapalani , Ashok Nagar and Airport have kiosks put up by popular food brands. For instance, at Koyambedu metro station, both commuters and passersby can stop at one of the gates to have a quick cup of coffee with some snacks, as kiosks have been setup closer to the road. Similarly, Alandur metro has coffee and sweet shops at the street level.Underground stations like Shenoy Nagar have eateries in the non-paid area of the concourse or at ticketing level. The staff at the station said one of the eateries had to be closed due to poor patronage and high rent.Other underground stations like Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar East and Nehru Park, which opened in May 2017, do not have any kiosks at the street level. Nandanam, Saidapet and Teynampet on arterial Anna Salai that opened in May 2018 too have been functioning with commercial spaces unused.“Separate tenders will be floated later for open spaces inside the station for commercial development,” an official said. Work is also underway to get the space allotted for commercial development at Central Metro, one of the largest metros in the city, ready.

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