BMRC to invite startups to set up offices at its stations

BMRC to invite startups to set up offices at its stations

Bangalore: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) is inviting emerging businesses to set up offices within five of its stations, following the success of a so-called Rsmakerspace’, Workbench Projects, that opened at the Halasuru station in February 2015.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd currently has 31 stations operational along 18 km from Baiyappanahalli to Mysuru Road and along 13 km from Nagasandra to Sampige Road.

“We have carved our spaces required for startups and ecommerce companies,” said Pradeep Singh Kharola, managing director of BMRCL.

“It is not like Workbench Projects, which is renting out space (at the Halasuru metro station) on a monthly basis. These (startup) outlets will be proper offices.”

To encourage startups to set shop at its stations, BMRCL is relaxing certain criteria for them, such as the one related to net worth.

Startups can bid for 31 office spaces of 100 sqft to 4,000 sqft at the Byappanahalli, Swamy Vivek ananda Road, Indiranagar, Halasuru and Trinity metro stations.The rents range from Rs 35 per sqft to Rs 120 per sqft depending on the station, said UA Vasanth Rao, general manager, finance, BMRCL.

Pavan Sheth, a systems engineer employed with Work Bench Projects, said several startups already frequent the makerspace as rents elsewhere are too high. “If they get space at a lesser price (at a metro station), a big problem is solved for them.”

Shashank Somanna, partner at Holystoked skating institute, has been running classes at the Swamy Vivekananada Road metro station for the past nine months. “The rent is cheaper compared to other places and it is good to start with as many people pass through the metro station every day ,” he said.

The tender document for selection of licensees of retail outlets will be available on BMRCL’s website from July 4 to July 26. The bid document can be purchased until July 26.

The bids have to be submitted on August 11.

Source:Metronews