Among the metro stations, the Vadakkekotta station is the biggest and is spread over a massive 4.30 lakh sqft, including a vast commercial space. It also has a sizeable parking space. 
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The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) is gearing up to open premium retail liquor outlets at commercial spaces available at the Kochi metro’s Vyttila and Vadakkekotta stations.

Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) had readied substantial commercial space at most metro stations to rent them out as kiosks and office spaces to garner alternative revenue from non-ticketing sources.

Official sources said Bevco had made enquiries in this regard with KMRL, following which it was decided to hand over spaces for liquor outlets at the two stations.

Bevco ought to carry out the rest of the work, including sourcing the mandatory sanctions from the Excise department, they added.

Confirming that Bevco had sought permission to open a retail liquor outlet each at the two stations, a senior Excise official said that work was on to assess whether the stations were beyond the minimum distance that had been prescribed to open such outlets. “They cannot be opened in the vicinity of places of worship, educational institutions, burial grounds, and SC/ST colonies,” the official added.

On whether liquor bottles could be carried in metro trains, sources said that commuters could carry unopened liquor bottles. They are not permitted to carry bottles that were opened.

Among the metro stations, the Vadakkekotta station is the biggest and is spread over a massive 4.30 lakh sq.ft., including a vast commercial space. It also has a sizeable parking space. The Vyttila metro station too is a major station and has ample commercial space. Located within the Vyttila Mobility Hub, it is a stone’s throw away from the adjacent bus terminal, the Water Metro terminal, and the Water Metro’s operational control centre.

KMRL is giving renewed emphasis to augmenting non-ticketing revenue since the warranty period for most metro equipment has expired. This will in turn increase the operation and maintenance expense, it is learnt.