Reinstallation of bronze fish statue begins at Madurai Railway Junction

MADURAI: Preliminary work for reinstallation of the iconic three-fish bronze statue at the Madurai Railway Junction began on Saturday. It will be reinstalled by the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TNCCI) at Rs 20 lakh.
Reinstallation work was initiated in the presence of Madurai MP Su Venkatesan and senior railway officials.
Chamber president N Jegatheesan said the 15-foot-tall bronze statue weighing between 2.5 to 3 tonne with three fish jumping on top of one another was installed in a fountain at the eastern entrance of the junction by the chamber in 1999. It was to perpetuate the memory of the emblem of the glorious Pandian era.
Around two-and-a-half-years ago, it was removed when the railways took up infrastructure and beautification work to facilitate a smooth entry of buses and other vehicles to the main entrance of the junction. The bronze fish statue was removed on the assurance by the then divisional railway manager (DRM) that an alternative place would be provided to reinstall it.
The statue was safely kept in a room on the railway premises, and DRM P Ananth provided space in front of the 100-foot-tall national flagpole at the eastern entrance for re-installation of the statue. The statue will be installed in the middle of a fountain.
“We expect work to be completed in a month’s time,” the chamber president added.