KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode Railway Station Protection Committee started a signature campaign in front of the station on Friday, against the alleged move to sell the Railway’s property in Kozhikode to private parties as part of the project aimed at uplifting stations to international standards. The one-month long campaign is also being conducted in Feroke, Koyilandy and Vadakara stations and is intended to collect five lakh signatures against the move to privatize the railway and will be submitted to the Prime Minister. On the first day, over 6,000 people signed the memorandum.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, one of the conveners of the protest ,T Suresh, said on June 26, when the tenders for the project will be opened, the Committee would conduct a procession and a public meeting in the Railway station premises. On July 19, a sit-in will be conducted in front of the station and on August 9, a Railway Station Protection Meet will be held. The Committee alleges that along with the 4.39 acre land of Railways, the station is also being given to a private party which would bar any kind of development of the station.
They allege that the land sale is part of the larger agenda of the union government to privatize one of the largest public sectors in India. Though most of the trade unions are up in arms against the PPP model of development, four bidders have evinced interest in the project for the proposed Rs 322 crore development works. According to the project, the 4.39 acres of railway land around Kozhikode railway station premises would be leased out to a private party for 40 years. The development works are envisaged in such a way that it would convert the station to a commercial-cum-recreational point.
