Before flight, get fresh at expressline station

Need to freshen up before boarding a flight? Soon, without checking into a hotel, you can invigorate yourself before the trip.

Need to freshen up before boarding a flight? Soon, without checking into a hotel, you can invigorate yourself before the trip.

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All comforts that a business class flier would look for would be available at swanky airport Expressline's New Delhi Metro station in a few months. Here people can take a nap, shop, drink and even shower before boarding the high speed Metro to the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

In a first, the Expressline's New Delhi Metro Station is being developed as a travellers' hub catering to in-country travellers as well as foreign tourists.

Among other value-added services for commuters, the station will have facilities like foreign exchange, ATM, healthcare, cloakroom, bookstores, travel and tourism information kiosks for local as well as outstation sightseeing.

"Within a few months, tourists and travellers will be able to avail of various facilities suiting their needs. Overnight travellers can take massage, shower and use spa facilities for relaxation. They can also take a short nap in the relaxing chairs before proceeding for their destinations," said an official of Reliance Infrastructure, the concessionaire company of the Expressline.

The station will also have a mini Dilli Haat, where famous cuisine from various parts of the country - Gujarati, Rajasthani, Chinese, south Indian, Bengali and Punjabi among others - will be available.

Major food chains such as Rajdhani, Dosa Hut, Nirula's, Punjab Sweets, Moti Mahal and Tibichi have already signed retail agreements with the concessionaire company. British retailer WH Smith is also setting up its outlets in the station.

A Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson said, "Internal studies have shown that utilising the station space as a retail destination can be a major source of revenue. We have got a terrific response from the market so far, and hope to launch these retail outlets in a big way."

Even those who would not board a Metro also can use all these facilities in the Express Line Metro station.

The New Delhi railway station caters to almost 3.5 to 4 lakh passengers every day, of whom 75% do not carry food and thousands change trains here for their final destinations. They also can use the facilities at the Expressline Metro station, said officials.

Around 60 outlets will be set up at the Expressline Metro station.

These will include food joints, garment stores, shops storing various Indian style souvenirs, paintings, sculptures, gift items, Indian handicrafts and miniatures of tourist destinations.