'Metro Man' E Sreedharan Moves Kerala High Court Against Proposed Bridge Construction, Says It Will Hurt Sentiments Of Hindu Devotees

E Sreedharan, known as India’s 'Metro Man', has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Kerala High Court.

In the PIL, he has challenged the failure of the Kerala government to consider feasible options for realigning the Thiruvanaya-Thavanur Bridge across the Bharathapuzha river without affecting the Holy Trinity Temples to preserve religious sanctity.

The construction on the project is set to begin on Sunday (8 September).

The Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice S Manu has directed the government to file a statement, Livelaw reported.

E Sreedharan, the architect behind the prestigious Konkan Railway and Delhi Metro Rail Project, has approached the Court for realigning the proposal of constructing the Thiruvanaya-Thavanur Bridge across Bharathapuzha in a way that it preserves the religious sanctity.

Sreedharan submitted that the proposed bridge divides the Holy Trinity between the Vishnu Temple at Thiruvanaya in Malappuram district on the north bank of Bharathapuzha river from the temples dedicated to Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva at Thavanur on the south bank of the river.

He said that proposed bridge would thus affect 'religious sanctity' and hurt religious sentiments of Hindu devotees.

Sreedharan also argued that the proposed construction of the bridge would cut through the office complex and encroach upon the samadhi of Late K Kelappan, referred to as the Kerala Gandhi.

Even while opposing the construction, the master builder has offered his service for free to the Kerala government to rework the alignment and has submitted how he would do it if he was given the opportunity.

Sreedharan further noted that his proposed alignment method would not only preserve the religious sanctity but also prove to be more cost-effective.

He urged the court to order the state government to explore alternative alignments and reminded the judges that construction is set to begin this Sunday.

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