# Railways to turn vacant station decks into retail hubs in Mumbai 2026-08-09T20:54:48+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Indian Railways has finalised a policy to monetise vacant elevated deck spaces at busy Mumbai suburban stations. Andheri, Borivali, Khar Road and Mira Road are among the first stations where operators may set up retail outlets, restaurants, grocery and vegetable stores. Authorities are preparing tender documents for the pilot project, which aims to generate licence-fee revenue from underused infrastructure. Western Railway has identified potential operators including restaurant chains, flea markets and coaching classes. The proposal includes a lottery system for vendors and preference for women's self-help groups. Safety and structural checks will be mandatory before commercial installations are permitted. The concept is based on integrated retail seen at stations in Tokyo, Singapore and London. Passenger movement and platform access must not be compromised, said commuter groups. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: commuter convenience, Indian Railways, monetisation, Mumbai suburban stations, pilot project, station retail Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/railways-to-turn-vacant-station-decks-into-retail-hubs-in-mumbai/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/railways-to-turn-vacant-station-decks-into-retail-hubs-in-mumbai/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.