Railway Ministry tries to resolve TN-Kerala dispute

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has begun consultations within his Ministry to find a solution to the problem arising from the differing viewpoints expressed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the creation of a new division at Salem, forked out of the Palakkad Division.

The move comes in the wake of objections raised in Parliament by MPs from the two states and the rail roko agitation launched at Salem, blocking trains connecting Kerala and inconveniencing passengers during 'Onam' festival.

Mr Prasad will hold a meeting, if necessary, with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu and V Achuthanandan of Kerala to find an amicable settlement, official sources said today.

Officials at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Railway Ministry, however, would not confirm a report that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had intervened in the matter, asking the Railway Minister to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers.

The rail roko agitation had been called off within hours of its launch on Saturday at the instance of Mr Karunanidhi. The Chief Minister had persuaded the political parties, citing the assurance given by Mr Prasad that the Railways would go ahead with the creation of the Salem Division.

The Railway Minister had telephoned Mr Karunanidhi after the agitators had begun blocking trains.

Kerala MPs are against bifurcation of the Palakkad Division to create the Salem Division as it would deprive their state of job opportunities, besides diluting the importance of Palakkad.

Minister of State for Railways R Velu however maintains that the Salem division in Tamil Nadu has already started functioning from February this year, though a formal inauguration is yet to take place.

''A building has been constructed to operate the new division, and it has already started operating from February this year,'' he said.

The Salem division would comprise 623 route kms from the Palakkad division, 135 rkms from Tiruchirapalli and 85 rkms of new line.

After the proposed bifurcation, Palakkad divison will be left with 509 kms of existing line and 36 rkms of new line under construction.

UNI