Kochi: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) aims to double up its non-ticketing revenue to Rs 12 lakh per day from the current Rs 6 lakh by June even as the leasing out of commercial spaces inside metro stations is set to be completed by May when outlets like food bazaars, mini-super markets, salon and spa will be opened inside metro stations. “There is a warm response for tenders floated for leasing out of a total of 1.25 lakh square feet space inside metro stations from Aluva to Maharajas College. The tenders will be closed soon and the process is expected to be completed in a month. The outlets are expected to start functioning from March onwards,” a metro spokesperson said.
Earlier tenders were floated for ten types of commercial activities including Food & Beverage outlets, retail shops, bakers and confectioneries, mini supermarket, Electronics and lifestyle shops, spa and beauty parlour, Boutiques store, stationary stores, and branded products. The KMRL is also leasing out space for setting office spaces. Besides the leasing out of spaces, the KMRL is ready with a host of initiatives to mop up non-ticketing revenue.
“We’ve doled out rights to wrap 13 metro train exteriors with advertisements to a Bangalore-based company recently. We’ll also launch soon the ‘click and collect’ system whereby commuters will be able to order goods and services using the Kochi 1 smart card and the same will be delivered at Metro stations,” the official said.
The KMRL has also decided to tender the semi naming rights of other stations too other than those allocated to Oppo Electronics (Kerala) Private Ltd for Rs 10 crore a year. “Besides talks are also progressing on tie-ups with app-based cab aggregators Uber and Ola which will also fetch us revenue,” the official said. Since no metro systems can sustain on operational income alone, the KMRL is on the constant look out for mopping non-ticketing revenue. Currently the daily expenditure runs to '38 lakh while the average daily income is only Rs 15 lakh.
