If you have spent a considerable amount of time in Mumbai, you would know how dependent Mumbaikars are on the Mumbai local trains. It’s also one of the sought-after means of transport used by celebs to avoid traffic jams on roads.
What would have taken us 2hrs today took us 20mins #lifeasweknowit On time for Visarjan #ganpatibappamorya pic.twitter.com/Gqo7aWFolN
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) September 6, 2016
To make traveling even more convenient, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) introduced Mumbai Metro around eight years ago. And while this rapid transit in air-conditioned cabins helps people travel hassle-free, there’s also something unique about the names of the metro stations where the train halts.
Like many of us, Twitter user Shlok noticed that each metro station was named after a popular brand. The brand names were used as prefixes for the metro stations.
For instance, there’s ‘LIC Andheri’, ‘Medimix Azad Nagar’, ‘Techno Marol Naka’, and ‘Bisleri Western Express Highway’, among others.
Opining that it’s ‘peak capitalism’, Shlok tweeted:
peak capitalism. pic.twitter.com/wX85LelMFK
— shlok (used to have blue tick) (@shlokafc) May 7, 2023
Apparently, the jingles of the brands are also played inside the metro when the station arrives.
i agree, I love it! They also play the corporate jingle instead of announcing just the station name. genius.
— shlok (used to have blue tick) (@shlokafc) May 7, 2023
Shlok thinks that this marketing strategy is GOLD!
people on twitter are stupid af, everyone thinking that I am complaining about this…
from a marketing lens, I think it’s amazing!
— shlok (used to have blue tick) (@shlokafc) May 8, 2023
After he shared his opinions about it, people came to share their two cents on the matter. Some said that it was a brilliant idea to use advertisers’ money to keep local transport affordable for the general public.
in my view good way for the government to fund infrastructure projects
they have taken a cue from US where stadiums are names are sponsored by corporates
— Shivam Rastogi (@shivam_xyz) May 7, 2023
Advertisement for cheaper transport.
— Shreshth Arora (@AroraShreshth) May 8, 2023
So good. Instead of your taxes paying for the entire metro line, some of it was paid by private companies in return of advertisement.
Perfect. 🙂
— Nitin Gupta (@asknitingupta) May 9, 2023
Very essential to keep metro and stations clean and prevent them from being turned into railway like stations
— FIN TRACKER 📈 (@SlayerSystem) May 8, 2023
One of the reasons why capitalism is awesome.
— Nitin Gupta (@asknitingupta) May 9, 2023
Abe iske liye companies accha paisa deti hai
— Manoj Kumar Sharma🇮🇳 (@whatwewish01) May 8, 2023
How else do you subsidize public transport? These are leased out stations. Helps drive revenues
— 🆎 🇮🇳 (@anishbakshi) May 8, 2023
That’s how metro rides are quite affordable
— Arman Patel (@discplinedtrder) May 8, 2023
Even though it’s a bit not easy for commuters, but it does subsides their commute
— Ketan (@PAREEKKETAN) May 8, 2023
because of this capitalism, socialists can travel cheaply
— Samosa (@SamosaSimp) May 8, 2023
Interestingly, many places like Delhi, Jaipur, and Dubai have also been following this practice.
Dubai has been auctioning station names for many years on fixed term. (may be 10 years)
At the end of the contract, name changes or gets renewed. pic.twitter.com/WzaghhyTUV— Kandy 🇮🇳 (@mehtakandy) May 8, 2023
In Jaipur, they named an entire metro station by a coaching centre name: Utkarsh Sindhi Camp Metro Station. And a new cricket stadium is being made here by the name of Vedanta Chairman: Anil Agarwal International Cricket Stadium.
— Karan (@IamKSC_) May 8, 2023
It’s been in Delhi Metro for a long time pic.twitter.com/QiXxBZaUFw
— Nikhil Prashar 🇮🇳 (@Cjsan420nikhil1) May 9, 2023
What do you think? Is it a marketing masterstroke or unethical to allow companies to advertise their brands on tax-funded projects? Let us know.