Giant Kothandaramar idol may change its route

The State archaeological department has refused to permit the multi-axle truck carrying the idol to proceed on a road near the famed Gingee Fort. The massive idol sculpted at Agarakotai village in Vandavasi taluk was being transported to a temple in Bengaluru.

According to sources, the truck with 240 wheels reached Gingee on December 18. Roadside obstructions had to be removed to enable the vehicle pass through Chetpet.

Problems arose in Gingee after the archeological department officials prohibited the vehicle from using the Gingee Fort Road. They feared that the idol could damage the walls of the historical fort. Although workers accompanying the 24-feet wide statue used cutting implements to reduce its width by one foot, the officials did not relent.

Villupuram collector Subramani, who visited the spot, suggested that the statue be moved to the Vellore road from Gingee and then taken to Bengaluru via Tiruvannamalai.

“The Chetpet and Gingee stretches are state highways and hence smaller in width. On the other hand, the Vellore and Tiruvannamalai stretches are national highways and much wider,” district officials said.