IRCTC plans `pod’ hotel near Mumbai Central station to offer cheaper stay: report
19 Aug 2019
Indian Railway Catering Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), the ticketing arm of Indian Railways, is planning to come up with pod hotel, for providing cheap stay to passengers near the Mumbai Central railway station, says a Zee News report.
IRCTC is expected to run a pilot project on the pod hotels - a concept derived from Japanese ultra-modern capsules accommodation –that will be equipped with TV, Wi-Fi, personal locker, sliding doors, lounge, Cafe, changing facilities and washroom.
These pod hotels will offer three kinds of capsules – Classic, Private and Suite. The rent for these pods are expected to be lower than that for the railway retiring rooms and are aimed at transit passengers and bag packers.
Classic Pod: This will be a 35 feed pod where a single person can fit in easily. This pod will be equipped with facilities like TV, Wi-Fi, power socket for charging and mood lighting.
Private Pod: This will also be an individual-only pod but will have a window space, personal TV, complementary Wi-Fi, power socket and mood lighting.
Suite Pod: This will be a 110 feed pod where two people can stay. The pod will have a queen size bed, window facing room, common bath facility, marble study, table, cushioned seats, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, personal locker and luggage storage.
The Railways is planning to build the pod hotel spread across an area of over 3,000 square feet at the Mumbai Central Station.
“With an aim to give ultra-modern staying options to passengers at a cheaper rate, we have come up with the idea of pod hotels. We shall soon begin working on the project. This will also be the first time that a Japanese style capsule accommodation will be given to passengers by any Railway station in India” Zee News quoted Western Zone group general manager Rahul Himalayan