The Ministry of Railways is scrutinising a proposal of the Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), the lone bidder for redevelopment of the Kozhikode railway station.
It is the only station in the State that will be developed under the Swiss Challenge Method. Incidentally, only bids for the Kozhikode and Jammu Tawi Stations have been received so far in the first phase redevelopment for 23 stations.
“The bid is under evaluation. We required clarifications from the bidder on certain issues. The Standing Technical Committee will give its report within a week. Subsequently, the bid will go through the Standing Finance Committee and the independent committee of experts before being finalised by Railways,” A.K. Sinha, Chief Planning and Development Engineer, South Railway, told The Hindu on Monday.
Previously, confusion prevailed over the two-stage Swiss Challenge Method as the Ministry wanted to rope in more private players for sub-leasing areas at the station for increasing revenue.
“The ULCCS will be asked to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) if Railways finalise its proposal. The DPR will be further scrutinised and uploaded on the website for the other companies, if interested to take part in the second and final phase of the Swiss Challenge Method, ” he said.
Estimate of ₹75 crore
The Kozhikode station will be developed with world-class facilities at a cost of ₹75 crore.
At least four sites, measuring 4.40 acres, identified for the project will be leased to the successful bidder for 45 years.
A section of railway employees with the Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) with the support of Left trade unions is campaigning against the Swiss Challenge Method.
The Ministry of Railways had inked an agreement with the Ministry of Urban Development for integrated planning for station redevelopment projects in cities identified for the Smart City Mission programme.
Ernakulam station from the State has been listed under this scheme jointly taken up by the Rail Land Development Authority and the National Building Construction Company, officials said.
