Exclusive: Ram Setu 'national heritage' in manifestos, 'nil' in ASI records, RTI finds

For years, Ram Setu has been invoked as "national heritage" in political discourse. But an RTI response reveals that, in official records, its status remains "nil".

Declared a “national heritage” in political manifestos for years, Ram Setu finds no such recognition in official government records. An exclusive Right to Information (RTI) response accessed by India Today reveals that the structure is neither protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) nor under consideration for such status.

In its reply, the ASI’s Monument Section stated that Ram Setu is “not protected as a monument of national importance” and that there is “no such proposal pending” at its headquarters in New Delhi. The response added that the information may be treated as “nil”.

Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is a 48-km chain of limestone shoals between Rameswaram in India and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. It forms a linear coral ridge separating the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Bay. It is believed by many to be the bridge built by Lord Ram’s army, as described in the Ramayana, to reach Lanka.

The RTI application had sought details on whether Ram Setu has been notified as a Centrally Protected Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, if any Gazette notification exists, and whether there have been surveys, expert committee recommendations, or scientific studies on the structure.

In response to all queries, the ASI made it clear that Ram Setu does not fall under its jurisdiction as a protected monument and that there are no ongoing or pending processes to grant it such status. The reply indicates the absence of committee reports, internal reviews, or examinations within the ASI’s Monument Section on declaring it a monument of national importance.

The disclosure gains significance against the backdrop of repeated political assertions. In its 2009 Lok Sabha manifesto, the Bharatiya Janata Party described Ram Setu as “our national heritage”, highlighting its religious significance and linking its preservation to strategic considerations such as thorium deposits and energy security. It also proposed exploring alternative alignments for the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project to protect the structure.