Western Railway to open grocery and photocopy kiosks at Naigaon and Virar stations
Western Railway's Mumbai division will put vacant station space to commercial use, with a five-year contract covering Naigaon, Virar, Andheri and two other stations.
Commuters in Vasai-Virar who want to pick up groceries on the way home from Mumbai, or get an urgent document photocopied or printed, will no longer have to hunt through the market. The Mumbai division of Western Railway has decided to put vacant spaces at suburban stations to commercial use. Under this, grocery stores and photocopy kiosks will be set up at Naigaon and Virar stations.
Two aims have been cited for the scheme: to save time for people who travel daily by local train, and to give the railway additional income beyond rent. A five-year agreement has been signed, and the facilities will open to passengers soon. Passengers stepping off a local train will be able to buy packaged groceries, milk and milk products, and household items at the station.
Those who need photocopies or printouts for government, semi-government or private work will not have to search outside the station, as this facility is also being provided within the station premises. The locations have been chosen so that passenger movement is not obstructed and people can shop comfortably. Working people returning late at night from Mumbai to Vasai-Virar, especially women passengers, will find this a big relief.
At Naigaon station, 120 sq ft has been allotted on the east side, near the subway and the main entrance. The annual licence fee is Rs 2.16 lakh. At Virar station, a larger space of 387 sq ft has been allotted on the east side, next to the ticket reservation office. The annual rent has been fixed at Rs 4.56 lakh.
In addition, a fee of Rs 13.09 lakh a year has been charged for 160 sq ft at Andheri station. The contract covering five stations is worth about Rs 1.20 crore in total.
Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, said the main objective is to give passengers better service and raise the railway's additional income by putting vacant spaces at 88 railway stations to commercial use. He said the initiative would benefit both passenger convenience and railway earnings. He said that under this new model, Naigaon and Virar stations would come to be known not only as points of travel but also as centres offering several useful facilities.
