11 cabins, 2 meeting rooms… Is Namo Bharat station being built or an office?

Providing better connectivity and convenience to passengers through Namo Bharat has been the priority of NCRTC. Many initiatives have also been taken in this direction. Taking another step in this sequence, NCRTC is now planning to open a co-working space ‘Metrodesk’ at Ghaziabad Namo Bharat station. This initiative is a new step towards transforming urban transit space into a business hub, which will be the first co-working model of its kind under the Namo Bharat network. This state-of-the-art workspace is aptly designed for professionals, entrepreneurs and small businesses in and around Ghaziabad.

Located at the concourse level of the station, this co-working space will have 42 open workstations, 11 private cabins and 2 meeting rooms, in which about 42 individuals and 11 companies will be able to work at a time. This setup will have facilities like high-speed internet and plug-and-play workstations, which will ensure seamless productivity and convenience. Being located inside the station, it will reduce the travel time of professionals and increase their efficiency.

This station attracts passengers
The busiest location of Ghaziabad Namo Bharat Station makes it an ideal place for professionals. Located on the Ghaziabad-Meerut route, this station attracts a large number of passengers, especially due to its proximity to Meerut Tiraha Mor and Shaheed Sthal Naya Bus Adda station of Delhi Metro. This co-working space will be equipped with modern technologies to make the work experience more efficient and productive. Smart access will be ensured through biometric entry and digital key cards, while reservations, membership management and cashless transactions will be made seamless through a dedicated platform.

These workplaces will be available with Internet of Things (IoT) services. This will make smart lighting, climate control and automatic booking of meeting rooms possible. Apart from this, video conferencing setup, wireless screen sharing and technologically advanced discussion areas will also be available. Reliable fiber-optic connectivity will ensure seamless work and virtual meetings. Along with this, hot desks, vending machines and QR-based scan-and-use options for feedback collection will also be available here.

Affordable option co-working space

Co-working spaces are an affordable option compared to traditional offices. These are workplaces where professionals from any sector or company can work individually or in groups by renting space as per their convenience in a shared workplace. This cost-effective model will be beneficial for startups, small businesses and remote professionals, allowing them to work in a professional environment instead of renting expensive commercial space. Apart from this, it will also be a platform to promote networking and collaboration.

Although co-working spaces have been in vogue for years, their demand has seen a significant increase after the corona-pandemic. According to a Cushman & Wakefield report, co-working operators took 2.24 lakh seats in major cities of the country last year. Of these, 38,000 seats were in Delhi-NCR. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, India’s co-working market is expected to grow from $2.08 billion in 2025 to $2.91 billion by 2030. Its growth can be attributed to flexibility, cost effectiveness, technological integration, high-level infrastructure, productivity and networking opportunities. Business hubs like Nehru Place, Connaught Place, Noida and Gurgaon in Delhi-NCR continue to be major hubs for these workplaces.

How big is the NaMo Bharat train network now?

NCRTC is developing commercial spaces in and around NaMo Bharat stations not only to enhance passenger amenities but also to generate non-fare revenue. This initiative will transform the stations from just a transit hub to a business hub. This will create economic opportunities and make the NaMo Bharat corridor an ideal model of modern urban transportation.

Currently, the NaMo Bharat train is operating from New Ashok Nagar Delhi to Meerut South on a 55 km segment with 11 stations. The entire 82 km long Delhi-Meerut NaMo Bharat corridor, which also includes the Meerut Metro, is rapidly progressing towards being fully operational by 2025.