Title - ‘Salem Railway Division will not be merged with Palakkad’ - The Hindu

Under no circumstances Salem Railway Division would be merged with Palakkad Railway Division, Rakesh Mishra, General Manager, Southern Railway, said here on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the Salem Railway Junction before carrying out inspection on the Salem – Tirupattur section, Mr. Mishra said that the merger reports are rumours and there was no question of merging with erstwhile division.

He said that S.K. Mittal, Commissioner of Railway Safety, who carried out the inspection on the newly laid Salem – Namakkal – Karur broad gauge sector, has allowed passenger train service to be operated up to a speed of 85 kmph and that the administration was in consultation with the Railway Board for operating passenger train service.

“Efforts will be made to increase the speed from 85 kmph to 110 kmph once the service begins”, he said.

About the prevailing water shortage at railway stations, Mr. Mishra said that efforts are being made to sort out the issue and adequate water would be made available. He later inaugurated a medical assistance booth on the premises that was being run by a private hospital. “Passengers with genuine ticket can get free treatment at the booth,” he said. Salem Railway Divisional Manager Sujatha Jayaraj was also present.