Latest news with #Komagan
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- The Hindu
Citizens council suggests Tiruchi airport be named after Rajendra Chola
The Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust has called upon the Centre to name the Tiruchi International Airport after Rajendra Chola. The Council, comprising heritage enthusiasts and local residents, has sought the issue of a coin in his name 'as a tribute to the achievements of the great Chola Emperor.' In a statement, R. Komagan, chairman of the trust, said the Esalam copper plates are the primary and earliest evidence that Gangaikondacholisvaram temple was built by Rajendra Chola. However, there is no direct evidence about when the construction of the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple was started and completed. It is believed that Rajendra Chola might have started building the temple after his Gangetic expedition as a memorial to his victory and name his capital city Gangaikondacholapuram. Various inscriptions indicate that the expedition was completed in his 11th Regnal year, 1023 CE and brought the holy Ganges water to sanctify the capital city and Gangaikondacholisvaram. 'It is known from the Thiruvalangadu copper plates that he dug a large lake named Chola Ganga in his capital and poured Ganges water into it. The large lake is known as Ponneri. Therefore, one thousand years have passed since the sacred Ganges water was brought to this city, a 16-mile large lake was dug and the water was mixed into it,' Mr. Komagan said. The occasion should be suitably commemorated by the release of a coin and naming the Tiruchi Airport after the king, who was a prominent figure in India history, Mr. Komagan added.
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
NHAI to build bypass around Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to build a bypass around Gangaikondacholapuram on the Tiruchi-Chidambaram National Highway (NH 81) to divert traffic away from the Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple, a world heritage monument situated in Ariyalur district. The move comes in the wake of concerns raised by heritage enthusiasts and conservationists over possible damage to the ancient structure caused by due to the vibrations caused by the movement of heavy vehicles on the highway. The NHAI recently floated a tender for building the bypass at an estimate of about ₹103.62 crore. Sources in the NHAI said the greenfield 7.2-km-long bypass will run from Gangaikondacholapuram to Meensuritti on the highway and would entail land acquisition. The work is expected to commence once the land is available. As per the tender document, the work is to be completed in 18 months and the contractor would be obligated to maintain it for five years. The 134-km-long Tiruchi-Chidambaram National Highway (NH 81) was strengthened and developed in recent years in three packages covering Tiruchi-Kallagam, Kallagam-Meensuritti, and Meensuritti-Chidambaram stretches. As the highway runs close to the Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple, the Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust (GKC Trust), led by its chairman R. Komagan, had called for building a bypass to protect the monument from possible damage due to vehicular traffic on the highway. Based on his representation, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in 2023 had taken up the matter with her Cabinet colleague and Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari requesting him to consider the plea. Following this, the NHAI had conducted a feasibility study and decided to build the bypass. Gangaikondachalpuram and the temple were built by King Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 CE) after his victorious expedition up to the Gangetic plains. The Brihadeeswarar Temple, listed as one of the three Great Living Chola Temples by UNESCO, is under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India. 'The highway development was endangering the structural stability of the temple and its sub shrines due to the movement of heavy vehicles close by. Besides, rare inscriptions in the temple complex will be prone to be damaged due to emissions from the vehicles,' Mr. Komagan had contended then. Welcoming the decision to build the bypass, Mr. Komagan, however, urged the NHAI to build the road expeditiously.
