The redevelopment work of the Varkala Sivagiri railway station, as part of the Amrit Bharat Station scheme, has commenced, it was announced.
It was disclosed that the works are being undertaken by various agencies who were appointed to assist in construction activities by the joint venture of Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) and Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL), which had secured the contract.
It was further revealed that the station will be redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs 1.23 billion in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode, with a construction period of 30 months. Concurrently, the same agencies were awarded the contract for the redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station at an estimated cost of Rs 4.39 billion in EPC mode, with an expected completion period of 42 months.
During a review meeting at the Southern Railway headquarters, officials evaluated the current progress of the initial stages of the Varkala station redevelopment. It was decided to commence the demolition of the station in the following month. Additionally, it was decided to incorporate two entrances in the new station building. An official of KRDCL commented, "Now, the preliminary work is progressing at a fast pace. The work, including the demolition of the station, is likely to begin soon."
Upon completion of the redevelopment, the station is expected to offer a range of enhanced passenger facilities and visually appealing interiors, creating an improved overall atmosphere. The exterior of the station will feature attractive landscaping, while the interior will be illuminated in a manner reminiscent of airports. Furthermore, the redeveloped station will provide parking facilities and superior intermodal transport options, ensuring seamless connectivity for passengers.
