Chennai is gearing up to welcome LuLu Hypermarkets early next year, with three locations slated to open in Metro Rail stations: Shenoy Nagar, Chennai Central, and Wimco Nagar.
Officials from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) announced that their contractor, Grace Services, has partnered with the LuLu Group to establish these hypermarkets. “We already have several food outlets at many stations, but these well-known hypermarkets are expected to attract more visitors and potentially increase our ridership. Offering convenient shopping options at station premises allows shoppers to quickly purchase and depart,” said a CMRL official.
The Shenoy Nagar Metro Rail station, which is underground, reopened last February with numerous amenities, including a children’s play area, a badminton court, and an open-air theatre in Thiru Vi Ka Park. The station also features a large basement space designated for property development, including various retail outlets, food courts, and parking facilities.
G. Charles Vasanthakumar, the proprietor of Grace Services, mentioned that the Shenoy Nagar Metro Rail station’s hypermarket will occupy approximately 1 lakh sq. ft. In contrast, the Chennai Central Metro Rail station’s hypermarket will be located at the concourse level, covering around 40,000 sq. ft. Meanwhile, the Wimco Nagar Depot station will host the hypermarket above the depot area, spanning nearly 60,000 sq. ft.
“We anticipate that Shenoy Nagar residents will primarily utilize the facility, while at Wimco Nagar and Chennai Central, it will likely cater to travelers who disembark, shop, and then head home. The construction of these hypermarkets will commence in early July, with all three expected to be operational by March next year,” Vasanthakumar added.