New Delhi: To promote literature and to make Indian language books accessible to metro commuters, the Sahitya Akademi has collaborated with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to open its first-ever bookshop at the Kashmere Gate metro station.
The shop was inaugurated on February 5 by Sahitya Akademi chairman Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.
The bookshop, which is located at the concourse level of the station’s elevated section, is the first-ever bookshop in the country opened by Sahitya Akademy outside their premises. “The metro passengers can avail of 15 per cent discount on the books purchased from this book shop by showing their Delhi Metro Smart Card. Limited edition of DMRC publications will also be made available for sale from here,” a DMRC spokesperson said.
The bookshop was inaugurated by Sahitya Akademi chairman Vishwananth Prasad on February 5 in the presence of Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, and other senior DMRC and Sahitya Akademi officials.
“A similar bookshop will also be opened shortly at Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station which will witnesses footfall of young students and academicians, besides the public. DMRC has already opened two bookshops in association with the National Book Trust at Kashmere Gate and Vishwavidyalaya Metro stations in 2014,” the spokesperson added.
The setting up of the bookshop is part of recent DMRC initiatives to tie up with various government organisations to use the metro premises in such a way that they are treated as a hub for promotion of Indian art, culture, literature, craft and tourism.
It will offer 15 per cent discount on books in Indian languages published by the Akademi to commuters.
“Stations like INA (Art & Craft Gallery), Jorbagh (Painting Exhibition), Mandi House (Art Exhibition), Kashmere Gate (Bookshop), Vishwavidyalaya (Bookshop run by National Book Trust) Patel Chowk (Museum-Tourism) etc. are a testimony to these associations and offer commuters an altogether different experience while travelling by the metro,” said a statement from the Delhi Metro.
