Varkala Sivagiri railway station redevelopment works begin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The redevelopment work of the Varkala Sivagiri railway station as part of the Amrit Bharat Station scheme has begun. The works are being done by various agencies who were appointed for assistance in construction activities by the joint venture of Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which won the contract.

The station will be redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs 123.36 crore in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode. The construction period is 30 months. Meanwhile, the same agencies secured the contract for the redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station at an estimated cost of Rs 439 crore in EPC mode. The expected completion period is 42 months.

The initial stages of the Varkala station redevelopment are advancing rapidly, with the demolition of the station expected to commence next month. During a review meeting at the Southern Railway headquarters, officials assessed the current progress and made the decision to incorporate two entrances in the new station building. "Now, the preliminary work is progressing at a fast pace. The work, including the demolition of the station, is likely to begin soon," an official of KRDCL said.

Once the redevelopment is finished, the station will boast a range of enhanced passenger facilities, visually appealing interiors, and an improved overall atmosphere. The station's exterior will feature attractive landscaping, while the interior will be illuminated in a style reminiscent of airports. Additionally, the redeveloped station will offer parking facilities and superior intermodal transport options, ensuring seamless connectivity for passengers.

The project's objective, as outlined in the bid document, is to modernize the railway station and establish a fresh, iconic identity for the renowned tourist location.

The document's scope specifies that the entire project must create an environment that is accessible to people with disabilities, including features such as access ramps, elevators, tactile flooring, appropriate restrooms, supportive handrails, braille signage, audio messages, required signage, designated parking, and other accessible amenities.

The main station building, spanning 9,944 sq m, will include a departure air-concourse, an arrival foot overbridge (FOB), an extension of the existing FOB, a substation, internal roads, a pathway, and stormwater drains.

The station design will incorporate sufficient space for various passenger needs, such as ticketing counters, areas for boarding and deboarding trains, waiting areas, and amenities like information desks, water facilities, toilets, and retail spaces for food and other purposes.