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Title: Need to open a railway division at Salem, Tamil Nadu and make it functional – Laid.
(RASIPURAM): When Tamil Nadu has got just three Railway Divisions to manage 4, 100 kms of track length, Kerala has two and Karnataka has three for a mere 1000 kms and 3100 kms respectively. Salem has five of the busiest railway lines. With the completion of Salem-Karur railway line, it will have six major lines. As a result of it Tuticorin Port will soon have direct link to major cities of the country. Salem-Mettur, Salem-Viruthachalam, Salem-Hosur, Jolarpet-Erode, Erode-Trichy have started carrying more freight. Hence, it is important to ensure a direct management of this remunerative railway section. Now that Salem comes under Palghat Division, proper management and modernization of this area is neglected. This results in increasing accidents between Jolarpet and Salem. Hence, I urge upon the Railway Minister to fulfill his promise made in March, 1999 to commence Salem railway division and give an impetus to commercial activities in this region so as to cope up with globalisation.