“Giving due regard to religious sentiments of all communties”: Chennai Metro debunks BJP leader’s statement

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 27 (ANI): Chennai Metro has refuted Bharatiya Janata Party leader H Raja against Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials were incorrect and it gives due regard to the “religious sentiments” of all communities while implementing a “major project of public importance.”

” It has come to our knowledge that certain erroneous and malicious statements are being made by Mr. H. Raja, both against CMRL as well as certain senior officials of CMRL. This erroneous information has also been published in various media-youtube channels and it has come to our knowledge that this information was disseminated today,” the Chennai Metro said in a post on ‘X’.

The “erroneous” information suggests that CMRL is undertaking unwarranted demolition of the Durgai Amman Temple and RathnaVinayagar Temple at Thousand Lights Metro station, which is part of Corridor 3 of CMRL Phase-II and indicts certain senior officials of CMRL, the press release from the Chennai Metro read.

“At the threshold such information is incorrect and stated in the absence of knowing the complete facts,” the Chennai Metro asserted.

Senior officials of CMRL are lawfully and diligently discharging their public duties solely with an intent to ensure timely and effective completion of the Phase-II CMRL project, the release said adding that while implementing a mega public project, shifting or relocating of buildings and structures, including those belonging to religious institutions is inevitable in certain cases, and is done by following due process of law.

“These actions are taken without any religious affiliation in any manner whatsoever. In fact, recently, where it has been feasible, CMRL has realigned certain works so as to ensure that certain temples were not impacted though it required demolition/shifting/relocation as per the Detailed Project Report approved way back in 2018 (2018 DPR),” the release read.

The Chennai Metro said that the alignment of the station, as is being constructed now, is also based on the 2018 DPR which envisaged shifting or relocation of the approximately 15 year-old Entrance Gopuram of the Durgai Amman Koil and the relocation of Sri Rathna Vinayagar Koil at Whites Road.

The CMRL said that it was not possible to avoid shifting or relocation of these aforementioned structures due to design constraints pertaining to the underground section.

“It is pertinent to mention that this matter has been currently agitated before the Hon’ble Madras High Court and is hence, sub-judice,” it said, adding, “It is emphasized that CMRL is giving due regard to the religious sentiments of all communities while implementing a major project of public importance that will benefit the Chennai public at large.”