Save Sethu Bridge

The Sethusamudram Ship canal project envisages the cutting of a ship canal across Rameswaram island near Kothandaramaswamy temple to connect Gulf of Manner in the Palk Bay so that the ships moving between eastern and western coast of India need not go around Srilanka and could have a continuous navigable sea route around the peninsula within her own territorial waters. This will save about 400 nautical miles of sailing for ships between east and west coast.

This project will establish a link to the nation water way similar to the national highway. Consequent on the reduction in voyage distance each vessel passing through the canal will effect a fuel saving of about 20 tonnes per transit (of) Rs. 70,000 or Rs. 21.00 Crores in a year for all the vessels. Presently India is importing large quantities of crude and savings in fuel means conservancy of foreign exchange to the extent of Rs. 7 crores corresponding to the Indian vessel alone.

The Sethusamudram canal will give better sheltered sea route from Tuticorin to various ports on the east coast with a saving in distance of around 400 nautical miles. Correspondingly there will be a saving in voyage time of about 16 hours. With the given shipping fleet it could be possible to make more number of trips and thereby increasing the capacity of the fleet.

In this context, a significant historical factor has to be taken into consideration. The Vedas, Hindu scriptures and the historical evidences available in temples clearly depict a fact that the happenings of Ramayana are factual and not fictitious.

In fact modern science in the form of NASA shuttle photo released a couple of months ago (accompanying pictures) confirm that a bridge existed once. NASA experts are of the firm belief that the bridge was made of a chain of shoals, 30 km long, in the Palk Straits between Dhanuskoti and Srilanka.

The historical bridge was built by Vanara architect Nala and it is believed to be the most ancient, longest and widest bridge in the world. This bridge once used by Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Sugriva and the Vanara Sena has become a point of pride and worship for the crores of the people living in Hindusthan 17 lakhs 25 thousand year old.

Ignoring the significance and sanctity of the remain of the bridge the central Government has launched this Sethusamudram Canal project that envisages the cutting of ship canal across Rameswaram island near Kothandaswamy temple to connect with the Gulf of Manner and Palk Bay.

Therefore, bearing in mind the cultural significances of the above bridge and religious sensibilities of the public an earnest appeal is made to the President of India to direct the authorities concerned to make alternative arrangements. This project can be executed without causing damage to the existing train route between Rameswaram and Dhanuskoti by utilizing the deserted and uncultivable land stretching 15 kilometers east west between Rameswaram and Dhanuskoti.

It is proposed to get as many signatures from public to be presented to respected Rashtrapati as early as possible.