The Kozhikode Railway Station is set for another round of facelift with the State government sanctioning nearly Rs.2 crore for development of facilities.
This sanction comes shortly after the station saw the installation of lifts and an escalator, which cost Rs.3.5 crore, in a bid to transform it into a “world-class” public facility.
As per senior Railway officials, the railway station falls in the A1 category as annual income from passenger footfalls exceeds Rs.60 crore.
As per the Railway Board guidelines, A1-category stations have to offer passenger amenities for disabled people and the elderly, such as ramps and escalators, necessarily to elevate it to a world-class station.
Railway officials also underlined the need for more surveillance cameras and car scanners to keep an eye on vehicles.
April 28 GOIn a Government Order issued on April 28 and published on May 13, the Transport Department said the government had agreed to the demand put forth by Divisional Railway Manager for Rs.1.99 crore for development works proposed.
Central schemeThe works proposed was part of a Central scheme to implement railway development works with financial cooperation from State governments.
The State government had decided to provide a total amount of Rs.10 crore for development facilities in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kottayam, and Kozhikode railway stations.
Funds were allotted for all other stations, except Kozhikode.
The April 28 government order followed a detailed estimate of works required in the Kozhikode railway station provided by the Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad.
Other demands from public include improvement of station infrastructure, including canopies for the platforms, footbridges connecting the platforms, a south-side entry to the station and an international shopping complex on its premises.
