Bidders hunt spots at Metro stations

Tender Process On For Retail Space
 

Metro stations on the eastern corridor came abuzz on Monday and Tuesday with over 30 brand heads inspecting the premises to see where they could set shop.

BMRCs retail in transit idea has generated tremendous response from entrepreneurs who are leaving no stone unturned to use the opportunity and hardsell their brands.Given the fact that the mass rapid transit system is Bangalores most visible project,every retail brand worth its value is keen on getting a share of the Namma Metro pie.

Metros business potential is huge.Commuters dont look for entertainment and are on the go.So we will offer something appealing to commuters, said a PepsiCo representative,who visited the stations to find out what were the spots on offer.Spaces for retail outlets at stations have been earmarked using colour tapes.Entrepreneurs will have to make presentations to BMRC on how they are going to use the space,ensuring their business and commuters interests are addressed equally.

Books cant be sold beyond quoted prices,while the service cost can vary in eateries or salons.We may initially have to bear with some losses,but still having a business at a Metro station is a great opportunity to make our appearance felt here.Once the full Metro network is ready in a couple of years,the footfalls and our business will grow in leaps and bounds, said Venkat Narayana,owner,Book Stop.

KA Cariappa,vice-president (operations),Trust Chemists and Druggists,said his company will bid for a shop at all existing six stations.Metro commuters can buy medicines at the station itself, he added.

All stations will have pharmacy shops,currency-exchange machines,coffee-vending machines,express laundry services and repair shops within the paid areas of the stations.But eateries,florists and gifts and novelty shops will be outside the paid areas.

CAFETERIA AT MG STATION

You can alight from the Metro at MG Road station,have a cuppa of steaming coffee and bite into a sandwich before moving ahead.Caf Coffee Day is going to have its first outlet at the station for which construction work has started.The shop is outside the station but attached to it so that Metro commuters and non-commuters can access it.