Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has presented a strategic proposal to the Madras High Court, outlining necessary adjustments to the alignment of its ongoing metro rail project in the Thousand Lights area. The plan involves relocating a temple structure to facilitate the construction of the metro, while ensuring minimal disruption to the religious site.
As per the proposal submitted by Advocate General PS Raman to the first bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice K Kumaresh Babu, the Durgai Amman temple in Thousand Lights will remain intact during the metro construction. However, the Nuzhaivayil Gopuram, a significant feature of the temple, will be shifted 5 metres inward. This adjustment is a temporary measure designed to accommodate the metro rail works, with plans to restore the Gopuram to its original position upon completion of the construction.
To maintain access to the temple during the construction period, CMRL has committed to providing an alternate 4-metre wide pathway, ensuring that devotees can continue to visit the temple without disruption.Additionally, the proposal addresses the temporary relocation of the Rathina Vinayagar temple. CMRL has pledged to rebuild the temple at a site identified by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, ensuring the preservation of the temple’s religious significance while accommodating the metro’s infrastructure needs. A significant change in the metro station’s entry and exit points has also been included in the plan. Originally, these points were to be located within the Rathina Vinayagar temple premises. However, to preserve the temple’s sanctity, the entry and exit will now be shifted to the opposite side of the Nuzhaivayil Gopuram, within the United India Insurance area.
This development reflects CMRL’s commitment to balancing urban infrastructure expansion with the preservation of cultural and religious heritage. The project is expected to proceedsmoothly with these adjustments, ensuring that both the city’s modernisation and its traditions are respected. The success of this proposal will be closely watched as a model for future urban development projects in culturally sensitive areas.
