Has Chennai Metro studied effects construction of rail line may have on San Thome Cathedral?

The priests at St Thomas Cathedral in San Thome are not aware of any study that has been undertaken by Chennai Metro to understand issues that may affect the heritage structure when work starts on constructing the rail line in this zone.

The line, starting from the Light House will run south to Cathedral junction and turn into Kutchery Road, to run westwards.

Said Fr. Arulraj, parish priest at the Cathedral, “Chennai Metro officials had met us to seek permission to undertake soil tests in our campus and we declined but we have allowed them to use the open ground of the primary school on the opposite side for this purpose.”

The priest said that Chennai Metro officials had not undertaken any study of the church nor spoken to him on this.

Recently, seniors at the Jumma Masjid on Kutchery Road represented to Chennai Metro their fears that the old mosque which they claim is over 350 years old may be damaged when underground work on the Metro line is undertaken.

Elsewhere, there is now a case filed in court on the issue of whether studies have been made to understand if local, old temples will be affected by the Metro work.