Tamil Nadu   

Work on Salem, Karur broad gauge line resumes

CHENNAI: Work on the new Salem-Karur broad gauge line has resumed after a three-year gap following settlement of cases challenging the land acquisition.

The project, sanctioned in 1996-97, ran into trouble when some land owners in and around Namakkal and Salem moved court demanding more compensation. With Railways not willing to oblige, the work got stalled. At one stage Railways contemplated shelving the project.

Recently, the railway administration and the land owners arrived at a settlement and the land was handed over a month ago.

Southern Railway Chief Administrative Officer R. Ramanathan told The Hindu that initially the project cost was estimated at Rs.230 crore. This would go up to Rs.350 crore. Land cost alone worked out to Rs.50 crore, of which Rs.28 crore had been paid. The administration had finalised the contractors and work would start soon.

The CAO said the new BG line would reduce the distance between Karur and Salem by 44 km. Now trains from Karur go via Erode to reach Salem, a distance of 129 km. This would come down to 85 km in the new alignment. Trains from Madurai to Bangalore could take the new line, which would reduce congestion in the Erode-Salem section.

The new line, on completion, would change the industrial scenario of western Tamil Nadu, said Mr.Ramanathan.

According to traders and industrialists, it would be a boon for lorry builders and poultry owners in Namakkal and Rasipuram areas, which lack rail connectivity.

According to Mr. Ramanathan there were six major bridges, including an 800-metre-long bridge across the Cauvery, and 12 minor bridges. The Cauvery bridge would cost Rs.30 crore. The administration planned 25 rail overbridges/underbridges in the 85-km-long project. There would be eight intermediate stations, including Rasipuram, Namakkal and Mohanur. If everything went well, the administration was confident of completing the project by March 2010.

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