The retail chain said it plans to open four more stores in Delhi in the current financial year.

Inaugurating the 15,000-square-feet store, former president K.R. Narayanan said: "Bookstores should be a point of intellectual and cultural movement. Youngsters should come forward and take advantage of them to build a huge knowledge base," Narayanan said.

"Bookstores must make available all kinds of books," said the former president, who is himself a voracious reader, adding: "Bookstores should go beyond business and make it a platform for intellectual interactions. These books can make India popular in an international forum".

The store will be open 365 days a year. It will also offer a return and exchange facility, dial-a-book service, book reading evenings and other community-centric events.

R. Sriram, CEO and managing director of Crossword, said: "We are delighted to be in Gurgaon with our flagship store, the first in the national capital region and the 26th in the country. We are committed to expand our network to reach out to more people across the country and build the reading habit."

"Crossword aims to be a point of cultural and social interaction where authors and poets will hold court, kids will be regaled and customers will be entertained, enlightened and informed."

A number of authors like Raj Kamal Jha, Radha Chakraverty, S. Banerjee and N. Kunju were present on the occassion.