Looking at alternative options on Sethusamudram project: Gadkari

Also says that the government will take legal steps to free the Indian fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Roadways, Highways and Shipping today said that the central government is looking at various options and their impacts in building the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.

According to reports, while speaking about the project, he also reiterated that it would not cause damage to the Ram Sethu, a bridge built between India and Sri Lanka under the instruction of Hindu God Rama as per belief.

The project, which was mooted by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in 2005, has been opposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is currently leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, as the proposal allegedly affected the mythical bridge. However, the project has huge potential as it would save hours of sailing for many ships sailing for trade purposes and also increase the trade relations between India and Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the issue of Indian fishermen who were sentenced to death by a Sri Lankan court recently, he said that the government would take steps to free the five Indian fishermen through legal ways. The fishermen were charged with offences of smuggling drugs.