IRCTC plans affordable pod hotels for station stopovers

The Indian Railway Catering Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) is all set to open pod hotels near the Mumbai Central Railway station, for which they have already sent a proposal to the Western Railways, and approval is awaited.

Pod hotels/capsule hotels were first developed in Japan and had attracted the world’s attention with their compact accommodation system which includes top-of-the-class amenities that one would find in any hotel room. India’s first such hotel opened in Andheri (Mumbai) in 2017.

With these pod hotels,which is set to be spread over 4000 square feet, IRCTC is planning to provide a stopover option that is more comfortable than the usual retiring halls. The first phase of the project will have 30 pod capsules. IRCTC will expend the number of rooms according to the response they receive from the first phase.

Each pod will be 5 feet by 7 feet and will come with all necessary amenities such as WiFi, power sockets and USB ports, as well as advanced facilities like temperature and light control, entertainment screens and personal lockers. The common areas will feature amenities like dining, washroom, lounge and changing rooms.

If the Pod hotel project would be successful, IRCTC, will be opening more such hotels outside Mumbai.