Salem Mayor Stages Sit-In Over Stalled Council Resolutions as Railway Board Sanctions Rs 2,241 Crore Line
Two significant civic and infrastructure developments unfolded in Salem, Tamil Nadu, in the last week of September 2026. DMK Corporation Mayor A Ramachandran staged a sit-in protest at the Corporation office, accusing the Commissioner of failing to forward council resolutions — including those opposing water privatisation and a waste-to-energy plant — to state authorities for four consecutive months. At the same time, the Railway Board formally sanctioned the 159 km Salem-Karur-Dindigul line doubling project at Rs 2,241.67 crore, and Dalit residents of a Salem village escalated to Chief Minister Vijay a demand to remove a wall blocking their community.
🗳️ Salem Mayor A Ramachandran Leads Sit-In Against Commissioner Over Withheld Council Resolutions
DMK councillors led by Salem Corporation Mayor A Ramachandran staged a sit-in protest at the Corporation office, accusing Commissioner Lalit Aditya Neelam of failing to forward resolutions passed by the council to the state government. The mayor stated that several resolutions adopted on key civic issues had not been transmitted to the relevant authorities, including resolutions seeking to scrap the proposed privatisation of the drinking water supply in Salem and a proposed waste-to-energy plant. Under Urban Local Bodies rules, the Corporation Commissioner is required to forward council resolutions to the Director of Municipal Administration, the District Collector, and the state government. Mayor Ramachandran told reporters that resolutions from the council meetings held in May, June, July, and August had all gone unforwarded. The mayor further accused the Commissioner of failing to issue the notification required to convene the monthly council meeting, even after being instructed to do so. The protest led to tension inside the Corporation office, with police personnel urging the mayor and councillors to end their agitation. The elected representatives refused to withdraw and continued their sit-in. Salem Corporation covers 60 wards: 48 held by the DMK, seven by the AIADMK, two by the Congress, and one each by the VCK, the Indian Union Muslim League, and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi. Commissioner Lalit Aditya Neelam subsequently met Salem District Collector K Elambahavath to discuss the situation, while a large contingent of police remained deployed outside the office. [3]
🗳️ Dalit Residents of Salem Village Seek Chief Minister Vijay's Help to Remove Blocking Wall
Deccan Chronicle reported that residents have sought the direct intervention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay to remove a wall that is blocking Dalit residents of a village in the Salem district. The article title indicates that the wall in question is physically obstructing the affected community, prompting residents to escalate the matter to the highest level of the state government. The fact that the affected residents have gone directly to the Chief Minister suggests that local and district-level administrative channels have either been tried without satisfactory outcome or have been bypassed in favour of drawing immediate political attention to the issue. The existence of physical barriers or walls that restrict movement for Dalit community members is a recognised civic and social justice concern in Tamil Nadu, and state authorities have previously taken action in such cases when brought to senior political attention. This particular case involves a village in the Salem district, and the report brings it into public view at a time when the Chief Minister's office may be expected to direct the local administration to act. The nature of the wall, who erected it, and the precise location of the village are not detailed in the available text of the report, but the request for CM-level intervention signals the seriousness with which the affected community regards the obstruction. [2]
🏢 Railway Board Formally Sanctions Rs 2,241.67 Crore for 159 km Salem-Karur-Dindigul Line Doubling
The Railway Board has formally sanctioned the 159 km Salem-Karur-Dindigul railway line doubling project at a total completion cost of Rs 2,241.67 crore, DT Next reported on September 23, 2026. The Salem-Karur-Dindigul section currently operates as a single track and forms an important link in the route connecting Salem to Karur and onwards to Dindigul in Tamil Nadu. A line doubling project adds a second parallel track alongside the existing single track, enabling trains travelling in opposite directions to use the same corridor simultaneously. This increases the number of services that can operate on the route and reduces delays caused by trains having to wait at passing loops for oncoming services to clear. The Railway Board sanction is a formal administrative approval that commits the project to its stated cost and clears the way for detailed engineering surveys, land acquisition, and implementation work to proceed. At Rs 2,241.67 crore, the investment represents a significant rail infrastructure commitment to the Salem region and the central Tamil Nadu corridor. The 159 km stretch, which currently has a single line, is considered an important part of the regional rail network. The sanction was reported by DT Next journalist Arun Prasath. [7]
Sources: [3] DT Next · [2] Deccan Chronicle · [7] DT Next