Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has revised the designs for stations on three planned metro routes, adding commercial complexes and increasing station height without changing the proposed 140-metre length and 30-metre width. The move could make Noida the first Indian city to build four-level metro stations, according to a report by Navbharat Times – Noida.
The revised designs cover the proposed routes from Greater Noida Depot to Bodaki, Botanical Garden to Sector 142, and Sector 51 to Greater Noida West through Char Murti. The stations will include a three-storey commercial complex, while the overall station structure is expected to rise by two additional floors compared with conventional designs. The commercial areas are intended to allow passengers to shop within the station premises.
NMRC is planning to develop the stations through a public-private partnership model. Each station is expected to cost approximately Rs 45 crore to Rs 50 crore, with the selected private company responsible for meeting the construction cost. In return, the company may receive the right to lease the shopping complex for 30 years and sublease parts of it to other businesses.
The alternative arrangement under consideration is to grant the private partner co-branding rights for 30 years. The participating company would be required to choose between the commercial leasing and co-branding options. The model is intended to reduce the direct financial burden on NMRC while creating revenue-generating space within the planned stations.
The report said NMRC invited expressions of interest on 9 July from 60 multinational companies with annual turnover exceeding Rs 1,000 crore. The invitation is part of the process to identify companies that could participate in financing and developing the commercial components of the stations. The report did not provide a final selection date, construction start date or completion schedule for the three station packages.
The multi-level station concept was reportedly inspired by a Bengaluru example in which Infosys contributed Rs 100 crore to support construction of a metro station. That station was connected to the company’s campus through a skywalk. The supplied report did not specify whether a similar private campus connection is planned for any of the Noida stations.
The announcement comes alongside renewed political statements on the proposed 8.449-kilometre extension of the Aqua Line from Noida Sector 51 to Greater Noida Sector 4. The extension is planned to include five stations and an interchange with the Delhi Metro Blue Line at Noida Sector 61. Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma and Noida MLA Pankaj Singh said the project would improve connectivity for residents of Greater Noida West and support access to residential areas, commercial centres, educational institutions and hospitals.
The proposed commercial integration adds a significant planning layer to the metro expansion. Besides carrying passengers, the stations will have to accommodate retail activity, private operators and interchange movement within fixed footprints. NMRC’s next steps are the evaluation of expressions of interest and the selection of the financing or commercialisation model for the new stations.
