Date:11/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/11/stories/2007111150360100.htm

Front Page

Karur-Salem BG line may get a fillip

L. Renganathan

Thanks to the formation of a new railway division in Tamil Nadu

KARUR: Formation of the new Salem Railway Division has given rise to expectations that the new broad gauge line work between Karur and Salem through Namakkal will get a fillip.

Work on the Karur-Salem BG line got the green signal from the Railways during 1996 at an estimate of Rs.230 crore. The foundation stone was laid here on May 21, 1998 by the then Railway Minister Nitish Kumar.

The new line covers Karur, Namakkal and Salem districts. When land was acquired, many people moved the courts seeking “adequate” compensation.The project included laying a new broad gauge line for a length of 85 km between Karur and Salem, via Namakkal.

En route, a new major bridge across the Cauvery will be constructed, for a length of over 1,250 metres, connecting Vangal in Karur district with Mohanur in Namakkal district.

Minister of State for Railways R. Velu and other officials promised during their visit to Karur that the work would kick-start again, but there has been no sign of any construction activity.

Now it is said that the Railways has been able to convince the litigant public on the compensation front and the legal formalities might be over soon paving the way for resumption of work.