Kozhikode: Railway passengers travelling through stations under the Palakkad Railway Division may soon have access to outlets of leading food brands, dedicated food streets and rail coach restaurants. The Railways is planning to bring brands such as KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Wow! Momo and Baskin-Robbins to seven stations to boost non-fare revenue.

Kozhikode is among the stations selected for major food and hospitality projects. Along with a rail coach restaurant, the station is also set to get a food street and a food truck service.

A food street is expected to come up near Mele Palayam within the next three months. The facility will be developed on a 1,291 sq ft plot near the station. The proposed food truck service will operate within the station premises, offering food and refreshments to passengers and visitors.

The rail coach restaurant planned for Kozhikode will be modelled on the facility operating near Chennai Egmore railway station. The project involves converting retired railway coaches into a 'Restaurant on Wheels' with an air-conditioned dining area, kitchen facilities, seating space and a parking area. Spread across nearly 6,000 sq ft, the facility is expected to offer passengers a distinctive dining experience within the station premises.

Construction work is likely to begin by the end of August. The project, estimated to cost ₹40 lakh, has been awarded to Erode-based Jesi's Food Court Company.

Meanwhile, work on Kerala's first rail coach restaurant at Payyanur is nearing completion. The ₹40-lakh project is being developed in partnership with four young entrepreneurs who have joined hands with the Railways to establish the facility.

Rail coach restaurants are also planned at Kannur railway station, which is currently undergoing redevelopment, as well as at Palakkad Town, Mattancherry and Nagercoil stations.

Five retired railway coaches chosen

The Railways has identified five retired coaches for conversion into 'Restaurant on Wheels'. These include both air-conditioned and sleeper coaches.

The coaches became available after the wider introduction of LHB coaches across the railway network, which led to the withdrawal of older coaches from regular service. The retired coaches are now being repurposed as part of the station development initiative.