India, April 18 -- Lucknow resident Nitin Srivastav, 44, frequently travels to Delhi for work. Each time, he books a hostel-style room in south Delhi's Greater Kailash. But last week, with less than 24 hours in the city - arriving late on April 7, attending a conference the next morning, and returning the same evening - Srivastav looked for a place closer to New Delhi Railway Station.

A quick internet search revealed a number of hotels around the station, but there was one that caught his eyes in particular - The Metrostay.

This "pod" hotel, which opened in February, is located on the first floor of the Airport Express Line's New Delhi Metro station. The concept was exactly what he needed - short-term stays in bunk-style beds for Rs.400...