New Delhi: Rats nibble metro wires, force closure of some food kiosks at stations

Delhi Metro officials said there have been many cases where rats nibbled away signalling wires causing disruption in services.

Rat menace, leftover food and crowding have forced the Delhi metro to remove food kiosks at stations across Delhi-NCR.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided not to allow any more snack shops on station premises. Those with a licence, will continue to run shops till it expires, but the spaces will not be leased out again. (Hindustan Times)

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided not to allow any more snack shops on station premises. Those with a licence, will continue to run shops till it expires, but the spaces will not be leased out again.

“Not only does it affect the aesthetics of the metro station, but there have also been cases when rats have cut signalling wires. Rats come because of leftover food and small shops do not maintain the area properly. A survey was done to identify snack shops that were affecting the movement of passengers and were responsible for unhygienic conditions,” a DMRC official said.

DMRC sources said most of these shops were let out on a three-year contract which cannot be terminated midway. However, the corporation will not renew the contracts and won’t let out the shops again.

“We will not renew contract and also won’t issue fresh licence for such shops. Some of them were between the token counters and security check, leading to congestion. Over the period of time, metro’s ridership has increased significantly, and we prefer the comfort of passengers over commercial activity,” the official added.

Read: Snag hits Delhi Metro services on Blue Line, yet again

Some of the stations where shops were removed from the main station area and have been relocated outside are- HUDA city center, Noida city center, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi Station, Botanical garden, Chawri Bazar and Laxmi Nagar.

Property development is a major source of revenue for the DMRC and it gives spaces on rent at metro stations to generate revenue. At crowded and centrally located stations, demand is huge and the DMRC gives space on platform and at concourse level too.

An internal analysis by the DMRC revealed that space, good enough to construct 1000 shops, is lying unused at metro stations across Delhi-NCR.

DMRC says in central and south Delhi, the space is sold out quickly but at areas where there is no scope for property development, they had to lower the rate to rent out space.