Close on the heels of letting out space atop metro-rail pillars and behind tickets for advertisements, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is banking on revenue from advertisements within and outside trains for operation and maintenance of the metro.
This is part of generating non-ticketing revenue, meaning revenue from modes other than sale of tickets and Kochi-1 pre-paid cards. “Exterior [both sides] of trains will shortly be wrapped with advertisements. Its tender has been finalised and will soon b e awarded. The firm that won the bid will give a fixed sum to KMRL. It can in turn sell the space to companies keen on displaying their advertisements, just as was done for metro pillars,” said a metro spokesperson.
The metro agency has fixed norms to place advertisements, including the material to be used and curbs on those with obscene content. This will be followed by permitting display of advertisements inside trains.
KMRL is also about to float tenders for opening kiosks within metro stations. Near them will be ATM counters, which too are expected to rake in non-ticketing revenue.
Simultaneous with station-naming rights, wherein the names of companies are suffixed with those of stations, the metro agency has entered into an agreement with owners of a few commercial buildings located next to stations to provide them direct access to stations. Thus, Lulu Mall’s interconnection with the Edappally metro station is getting over. This will be followed by a direct link from MG Road station to Chennai Silks. An apartment complex in Edappally too has evinced interest, and its feasibility is being studied, sources said.
KMRL is keen on developing an integrated township-cum-recreation space at Kakkanad and garner revenue from sale of dwelling units. The project has been a non-starter due to the Public Works Department’s reluctance to part with its land, a portion of which housed government quarters.
