Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor: NCRTC Floats Tender For Acquiring Co-Branding Rights Of RAPIDX Stations

Aiming at enhancing passenger experience and convenience, NCRTC has explored non-fare revenue options for financial sustainability of India's first rapid rail project.

National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has floated a tender inviting leading players of the industry to participate in the bids for co-branding rights for some of the stations of RAPIDX.

The RAPIDX stations — Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai — are included in the present tender for co-branding rights.

Explaining the move, a senior NCRTC official said that the stations can be named after any fast-moving consumer goods or any other lifestyle brand or for that matter any major steel maker or petroleum companies.

"Though it is difficult to guess the response from this exercise, as it is for the first time for this service but we are hopeful of substantial earning from it," the official said.

Semi-naming/co-branding rights of RAPIDX stations as a media option, is ideal for delivering an impactful advertising campaign for local players, as well as national and global brands.

The brands will be permitted to prefix or suffix their names to the RAPIDX station names, in addition to using the brand colours on the station walls and hoardings at several places on the station, including entries and exits.

NCRTC is also introducing audio announcements in trains of the approaching station with the acquired co-branded name. This allows a huge opportunity for brands as large number of commuters on the train will interact with the brand.

NCRTC will also soon start rolling out many innovative and novel offerings including media rights, F&B and retail spaces on the stations, floors for offices and retail, pouring rights, telecom access rights, virtual stores etc.

The tender was floated post a productive interaction organised by NCRTC recently with the media industry, to explore branding and advertising options for non-fare revenue in the upcoming Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor.

RAPIDX services will be the fastest regional commuter system in India and NCRTC's commitment to progress through speed makes it an attractive opportunity for potential partners, offering increased non-fare box revenue and heightened visibility for partner brands.

Selected partners will have the opportunity for short to long-term association with NCRTC, leveraging the branding potential of RAPIDX and establishing a mutually beneficial partnership.

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for inauguration of the priority section of the RRTS corridor, between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, expected to be done this month (July).

NCRTC aims to provide a world-class transit experience by offering equitable, fast, reliable, safe, comfortable, efficient, and sustainable mobility solution, contributing to the economic development of the National Capital Region.

These initiatives are essential for providing quality services to the commuters on long term basis, especially on the capital-intensive project like RRTS.