Manoj V By

Express News Service

KOCHI: The Central Government has expressed willingness to build a high-security underground museum near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram to keep its treasure, believed to be worth over Rs1 lakh crore.

Union Minister of State for Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam, who met Travancore royal family members Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi and Avittom Thirunal Aditya Varma on Sunday, told Express his ministry was ready to bear the Rs300-crore museum's entire expense.

"The plan is to build an underground museum near the temple. It'll be in the typical Kerala architectural style. The building will have a security system better than that of the Reserve Bank of India. I've discussed the proposal with the royal family and we're only in the initial stage of discussion.

We've to initiate confidence-building measures to get the consent of the royal family and devotees. We don't want to hurt the religious sentiments of the community. I'm confident of arriving at a consensus on the proposal," said Kannanthanam.

The minister said he has already held discussions with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the proposal.

"The drawings for the museum is complete and the ministry is ready to bear the entire expense. I'm confident that the museum will become a major attraction in the country. We've only started discussing the proposal and we will talk to all stakeholders. The Kerala Government has offered all help in this regard," added Kannanthanam.