Kamal Ghorui
Bengaluru: More than 14 years after it opened, Sampige Road Metro station is set to host retail outlets, with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Sunday inviting tenders to open commercial spaces at the station and six others.The commercial expansion will largely cover Green Line stations at Madavara, Yeswantpur, KR Market, and Banashankari, as well as Pattandur Agrahara on the Purple Line.
At Sampige Road, BMRCL has earmarked 8,000 sqft for commercial use and is looking at apparel brands or warehouses. Opened in 2011, the station was built under a public-private partnership (PPP) between BMRCL and Mantri Developers to provide direct access to adjoining commercial buildings.BMRCL said the station remains under its control despite the PPP model. “It is our station only; we entered a PPP agreement only for building and maintaining the station. It is our place; BMRCL has the right to call for that,” an official told TOI.KR Market station in Chickpet will open up 1,975 sqft, likely for quick-service restaurants, pharmacies, cafes and apparel brands. Pattandur Agrahara will have 840 sqft, while the remaining stations will offer smaller commercial spaces.
