Delhi: NCRTC to Build Hotels, Offices, and Residential Areas Above RapidX Stations

Delhi: The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is planning to commence an innovative project to construct multilevel commercial areas, including hotels and offices, above its Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar stations. This initiative marks the first time as such development will be integrated with a metro system in India.

Under its transit-oriented development (TOD) policy, the NCRTC has acquired air rights and recently issued an expression of interest (EOI) to explore the feasibility of constructing hotels, offices, and residential areas, such as high-rise flats, above the RRTS stations.

The EOI floated for Sarai Kale Khan station states that the NCRTC aims to qualify and select a suitable partner through an open competitive bidding process for the proposed Transit Oriented Development on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The EOI seeks industry perspectives on successful commercial development, including retail, offices, and hotels, to establish a common understanding of the contract agreement's proposed terms and conditions.

A separate EOI has also been issued for the Anand Vihar station, which is part of the upcoming Delhi-Meerut line schedule to commence operations in 2025. Sarai Kale Khan station, on the other hand, will serve as a transit hub for three priority RRTS corridors—Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat, and Delhi-Alwar—with seamless multimodal integration, enabling commuters to easily switch between the RRTS, the existing Metro station, the bus stand, and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station.

The RRTS trains, known as RapidX, will operate on these lines, offering a fast and efficient mode of transportation for passengers.

While the Gandhinagar railway station in Gujarat currently boasts a five-star hotel constructed above it, the NCRTC's project represents a significant expansion of this concept.

In 2019, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) approved 12 TOD nodes in the capital city, but progress has been limited, with only the Karkardooma node on the Blue and Pink lines making headway, albeit with multiple delays in completion.