Salem Division would become functional in August
Coimbatore:The Control Office of the Salem Railway Division would become functional in August, Railway sources said here today.The office was likely to be declared open by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in the presence of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and his deputy R Velu, the sources told.The Railway Ministry has tentatively fixed August 16 to open the office, but was awaiting confirmation from Karunanidhi, the sources said.The Division, carved out from Palakkad Division, was the source of much controversy over its jurisdiction, as political leaders, industrial associations and social organisations from Tamil Nadu wanted Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode included in it as announced, which was opposed by their Kerala counterparts.
However, there would not be any change in the geography of the division and "status quo would be maintained," they said. Saying that the division has already started functioning with skeletal staff, the sources said that, it would take at least two to three years for it to become a full-fledged one.
