Realising the worth of a huge chunk of land lying vacant with it, the Northern Railways has proposed commercial activities on it in collaboration with some private parties.

Two pieces of vacant land measuring a total of 65 acres, which have been offered to the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA), would be given on leasehold or licence basis for commercial development.

Recently RLDA, a body formed especially for the development of railway land, had asked the Northern Railways to identify the vacant land with the Chandigarh railway station that can be commercially exploited.

Based on the suggestions and recommendations, railway authorities selected two plots on main Madhya Marg. The area of these two plots is 57.5 acre and 7.5 acre respectively.

“The Northern Railways has selected two plots for commercial development and offered them to RLDA. These plots are near the Territorial Army area on the Madhya Marg. The total land with the Chandigarh railway station is around 490 acres, out of this around 65 acres has been identified for commercial activity,” said Divisional Railway Manager H K Jaggi.

Though it is yet to be decided as to what type of commercial activity will come up on the vacant land, sources said keeping in mind the location, a mall or a hotel is likely. According to RLDA members looking after the project, the land would be given either on leasehold or licence basis to a private party for a limited period.

Under the RLDA Act, a vacant land can be used for commercial purposes by all the other means but selling it to a private party.

According to railway officials, a survey would be conducted to conclude what kind of property is in demand. “Consultants would be appointed to conduct a survey for the use of this land. The final decision would be based on the survey report but there are chances that a hotel or a commercial mall might be built on these plots,” said Jaggi.

A budget hotel is also coming up at one of the other vacant land plots with the railways.