Lifting the fog of uncertainty looming over its expansion project, the Railway Board has given the go-ahead to the Southern Railway Zone to proceed with the expansion of the Kozhikode railway station.
Earlier, the Railway Ministry had been considering dropping the Swiss Challenge Method as Railway Minister Piyush Goyal did not favour it.
The Kozhikode station is the only railway station in the State that has been chosen to be developed under the Swiss Challenge Method. The Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) has already bid for the Phase - I development of the project.
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It is among the 23 stations in the country that will be expanded with world-class facilities at a cost of ₹75 crore. Interestingly, bids have been received only for Kozhikode and Jammu Tawi stations.
DPR to be prepared
Now, ULCCS will have to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) so that other firms can take part in the second and final phases of the Swiss Challenge Model.
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A.K. Sinha, Chief Planning and Development Engineer, Southern Railway, told The Hindu on Monday that the Railways had explored the possibility of awarding contract to any firm that had come up with better proposals. No deadline has been fixed for the finalisation of the project, he said.
Meanwhile, the Southern Railway Zone will go ahead with the process after looking into various aspects. Besides, special measures have to be taken in the case of Kozhikode unlike other stations that will be developed by Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited and the Rail Land Development Authority.
Four sites, measuring 4.40 acres, have already been identified for the project. The land will be leased to the successful bidder for 45 years. The project includes retail development and office space development.
The amenities proposed are arrival and departure segregation, concourse, food and beverages outlets, canopy roofing and superior flooring, escalators, and passenger lounges, officials said.