With the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation calling for an open auction to license out built-up shops at metro stations, commuters may soon find the premises teeming with retail outlets. Fifty-eight shops at various metro stations across the DMRC network will be put to open auction on October 17, 19 and 22 for letting those out on licence basis. However, bids are invited for licence to operate retail outlets on “as is where is basis” at metro stations according to demarcated plans.
The shops are at stations on Line 1 (Dilshad Garden-Rithala), Line 2 (Jahangirpuri-HUDA City Centre), Line 3 (Noida City Centre-Dwarka) and Line 5 (Inderlok-Mundka). While previously DMRC was allotting shops on a “first-come-first-served” basis, it is increasingly switching to auctioning due to the revenue benefits and “easier and fairer method”.
“This is not the first time we are auctioning shops at metro stations,” says a DMRC spokesperson. “For instance, we auctioned shops at the property on Bhai Veer Singh Marg. All the revenue earned is invested back into the system for operations and maintenance.”
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Shops at stations along Line 5 such as Punjabi Bagh, Shivaji Park and Paschim Vihar will be auctioned on October 17. The stations along Line 1 and Line 3 will be auctioned on October 19 and those along Line 2 will be auctioned on October 22.