IRCTC plans compact yet comfortable pod hotels near Mumbai Central railway station

The pods, each measuring 5 feet by 7 feet, will have facilities like temperature and light control, personal lockers, USB ports, Wi-Fi and entertainment screens.

Following the likes of Singapore, Japan and Australia to name a few, India got its first pod hotel, Urbanpod, in 2017.

Now, IRCTC, the national carrier’s catering service, has shown a similar interest in setting up a pod hotel to its passengers near Mumbai Central railway station.

The affordable and air-conditioned pod hotel will give passengers an option to choose a comfortable stopover with better and more amenities than the existing retiring rooms.

In a statement reported by Hindustan Times, Pinakin Morawala said,

“The capsule concept will be one-of-a-kind with ultra-modern and smart amenities available to passengers. This construction proposal is part of a wave of innovative ideas to enhance the passenger experience.”

The hotel will be built over an area of 4,000 square feet, and is currently waiting for an approval from the Western Railways. In terms of the pod’s physical appearance, each pod will measure 5 feet by 7 feet, and will cost much lesser than regular hotels.

Once it gets approved, designs for the exteriors and interiors will be done accordingly.

IRCTC has planned 30 capsules and a passenger can stay for a maximum of 12 hours. The pod will also offer facilities such as temperature and light control, personal lockers, USB ports and power sockets, intercoms, entertainment screens, Wi-Fi, integrated with a comfortable place to rest, reports Business Today.

At present, IRCTC is pitching on the proposal for an opportunity to open similar spaces near major stations across India if this pod hotel takes off successfully.

As per Morawala, in terms of tariffs, he stated that it’s too early to put an estimate on the cost of the pod hotel, but it will depend on the number of hours a person uses the pod.

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