Date:20/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042055290700.htm

Tamil Nadu

Karur-Salem new broad gauge line by 2010

Staff Reporter

KARUR: As per current estimations, the Karur-Salem new broad gauge line works would be completed by 2010, according to the Salem Railway Divisional Manager S. Mohan.

The DRM was interacting with the media persons here on Friday on the sidelines of his inspection of the Karur-Dindigul broad gauge line.

While land acquisition for the ambitious project has been completed, work on the next phase has commenced, he added.

Mr. Mohan said that the Salem Railway Division has bagged the Best Division Award in the Southern Railway for achieving exceptionally good revenue generation, among other things.

The Division generated revenue of Rs.135 crore over five months, a good 20 per cent up over the corresponding period of the last fiscal. The award was received at the 53rd Railway Week Celebrations on April 15.

Mr. Mohan informed that a total of 6.35 lakh tones of freight movements were achieved and the major cargo was coal for the Mettur Thermal Power Project, oil seeds and food items.

Salem Division has also bagged the Passenger Service Improvement Award, he added.

Preliminary works

The 90-km Erode-Palani broad gauge line work has received the green signal and preliminary works would commence soon, Mr. Mohan said.

The Kallakurichi-Chinna Salem track doubling work was progressing well along the 16 km stretch, he added.