Kerala CM, Lalu arrive at consensus on Palakkad bifurcation

New Delhi, Sep 9 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today reportedly arrived at a consensus on contentious issues relating to the state's railway development, including bifurcation of Palakkad division and creation of a Railway South Zone in the state.

The meeting at Railway Bhawan here lasted one hour this morning.

Mr Achuthanandan was invited for talks in the wake of the tussle between Kerala and Tmail Nadu over the creation of a new Salem division in Tamil Nadu by adding a major portion from the existing Palakkad division in Kerala.

A final decision on the contentious issues including creation of a railway coach factory in Kerala will be taken at a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this evening.

Mr Achuthanandan, Mr Prasad and three Marxist MPs from Kerala (Mr P Karunakaran, N N Krishnadas, K Chandran Pillai) will meet Dr Singh at his residence.

Mr Achuthanandan, who arrived here last night, paid a courtesy call on President Pratibha Patil and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on his first visit to the capital after they got elected last month.

UNI