The widening the Chennai-Tirupati National Highway has hit a roadblock after a sudden revelation of an underground chamber at Subramaniaswamy temple at Pattaraiperumbudur, which might lead to a nearby temple. Devotees have submitted petitions saying that the temple should not be demolished.

Sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that a total of 26 temples fell in their right of way of which around 17 had been removed. “We had issued notice to the temple management that we would be requiring the land for the road work. They had sought some time till the end of a festival. We waited but two days ago when we wanted to take over the land, devotees and local residents had raised objections. They do not want to give up the land. We will take the issue with the district collector,” said an official.

M. Sathiyamoorthi, a resident of Pattaraperumbudhur, said that the temple was over 1,000 years old. “There are inscriptions in the temple from Kulothunga Chola’s time. We want the temple to remain in the same place. It cannot be moved anywhere. We have submitted petitions to the authorities seeking intervention from the government,” he said.

The temple comes under the purview of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department and is under the control of a hereditary trustee. A devotee said that payment had been made only for shifting of the shrines of Lord Shiva and the Navagraha. “Now since there is a tunnel running beneath, we want the archaeology department to conduct tests using equipment to find out where the tunnel ends. It is an ancient temple,” he said. 

A temple expert said that if the door and tunnel-like structure were under the Ardha mandapam it could be a Nilavarai, a room where idols and precious items would be hidden whenever needed. “Such rooms are in existence even in temples that are over 300 years old. They used to construct such facilities to hide important objects from invaders or marauders. The department should step in and ensure that the temple is not disturbed in any manner,” he said.