Fire Deptartment says no to shops in metro stations

BENGALURU: Namma Metro's grand plans of renting out space for pharmacies, florists, daycare centres and offices in its stations has hit a roadblock. The Fire and Emergency Services Department has refused to issue a noobjection certificate and raised serious doubts about the Metro's existing security system being able to prevent people from carrying hazardous material into the stations if they are opened for commercial activity .

The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation has set aside space for commercial establishments in nine stations and also called tenders to rent them.

Fire and Emergency Services deputy director (fire prevention) NR Markandeya confirmed that the permission has been denied. Security guards of a private agency hired by the Metro were not trained for the job, he said, adding "Yesterday, I went to the MG Road station, wearing a jacket over my uniform. The guards saw my khaki shirt and allowed me to enter without going through a check. That is not done." Delhi and other metros, however, were guarded by the CISF, he pointed out.

Commercial establishments inside stations would allow non-Metro users, adding to crowding inside the stations, Markandeya said. More crowds would mean more waste-generation and -given the lax security -entry of banned substances. Besides, fire in one form or another would be used by the commercial establishments, he said.

BMRCL has marked space for grocery shops, child daycare centres, eateries and party halls but the Fire and Emergency Services Department is insisting on a nodustbin policy, given the underequipped security system.

The BMRCL had called a tender for retail outlets under 31 categories for Byappanhalli, Swamy Vivekananda, Indiranagara, Halasuru and Trinity stations on June 30 and for MG Road, Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamyji station, Hosahalli and Vijayanagara stations on September 19.In a hurry to monetise its space, the corporation only recently leased parking spaces.

Urban commute expert Sanjeev Dyamannavar said that the BMRCL had no idea of retails spaces even in its detailed project report. As Bengaluru's stations are much smaller than those in Delhi, renting out spaces for party halls and gymnasi ums may impede the flow of commuters, especially during emergencies. However, smaller kiosks such as ATMs, florists, takeaways or pastry shops could be allowed, he said.

BMRCl's general manager (finance) UA Vasanth Rao said Namma Metro will go ahead with its plans to have commercial establishments after ensuring that all safety measures are in place. Kiosks would be built with fire-proof material and there would be no outlets near fire prevention equipment, he said, adding that there is a huge demand from the public to open gyms, pharmacies and child daycare centres.