The Indian Railways is planning to utilise vacant spaces on elevated station decks and areas above foot overbridges at several busy suburban railway stations in Mumbai for organised commercial activities. The initiative is aimed at making better use of underutilised railway land while creating an additional source of revenue through rentals and licence fees.
Railway authorities are preparing tender documents to invite operators for setting up shops, kiosks, cafes, restaurants, grocery stores, vegetable outlets and other services within station premises. Andheri, Borivali, Khar Road and Mira Road are among the stations being considered in the initial phase due to their high passenger volumes and availability of elevated deck space.
According to railway officials, Western and Central Railways have together created nearly 147 acres of space through such elevated structures across Mumbai. The proposed outlets could allow commuters to purchase daily essentials, including groceries, vegetables and meals, without leaving the station.
Western Railway has begun examining possible categories of businesses, including established food chains, cafes, grocery and vegetable retailers, flea markets and coaching centres. The plan, however, will require detailed safety and operational assessments before implementation.
Authorities will examine the structural capacity of the decks before permitting additional installations. Fire safety, electrical requirements, emergency evacuation arrangements and crowd management will also be considered. Shops will have to be positioned in a manner that does not interfere with passenger movement, platform access, escalators, foot overbridges or station exits.
Different methods of selecting operators are being considered, including a lottery-based allocation system. Some spaces could also be reserved for women’s self-help groups, while established cafes and restaurants may be invited for larger commercial areas.
The initiative is expected to begin as a pilot project. If successful, the model could be expanded to more than 20 suburban stations across Mumbai. Railway authorities are also studying station-retail models in Tokyo, Singapore and London, where commercial facilities have been integrated into transport hubs while maintaining passenger safety and operational efficiency.
Source: Mumbai Live
