Mumbai: Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Patil Danve inaugurated Indian Railways’ first pod hotel as a retiring room for passengers at the Mumbai Central railway station on Wednesday.
First developed by Japan as a minimalistic housing concept with small-sized spaces and affordable accommodation, a private company had opened India’s first pod hotel in Andheri, Mumbai, in 2017.
The railways’ hotel sprawls across 3,000 square feet, on the first floor of Mumbai Central, with 48 capsule-like rooms. They include 30 classic pods, 10 private pods, seven pods for women, and one for the differently abled.
The classic and ladies’ pod will accommodate only one guest, whereas private pods comprise a private space within the room, and the one for the differently abled will fit in two guests with enough space to move about in a wheelchair.
Guests can book a pod for either 12 or 24 hours and avail all modern facilities. Though affordable, private pods are more expensive than others.
The hotel includes a free Wi-fi network, washrooms, luggage, and shower rooms in the common area, interior pod lighting, charging points, smoke and DND detectors, televisions, and air-conditioning.
(Avya Mathur)
