Ram Sethu structure will not be demolished: Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi: Ram Sethu structure will not be demolished at any cost for the construction of Sethusamudram shipping canal project, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said.

"Regarding Ram Sethu, we are very much committed that at any cost we will respect the feeling of the people. We will not demolish it," Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said at the Economic Editors Conference here.

Replying to a query, the Minister said the "issue (Sethusamudram) is sub-judice."

He said there were six alternative options for the project and "Cabinet will take a decision on it."

Earlier, the Centre had given RITES, a state-owned consultancy organization in transport, infrastructure sectors, the task of preparing alternatives available to save the structure, which holds religious significance for Hindus.

According to Hindu legends, the structure was built by Lord Rama and his army of apes and monkeys to reach Lanka.