A 15-foot-tall grotto, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health at Manickapuram here, was shifted to a new place with the help of a crane on Friday as the 33-year-old structure was a roadside encroachment.
After the level of Manickapuram – Samuelpuram main road increased substantially following repeated re-laying, the devotees who built the grotto in the shape of a golden car 33 years ago on the roadside, decided to shift it to a new site just 60 feet away from the present spot. As the task was entrusted to a crane operator, he dug narrow trenches beneath the grotto through which wide belts were inserted so as to tie the concrete structure. After Rev. Fr. Franklin, parish priest of St. Lourdes Church, Lourdhammalpuram, offered special prayers along with the devotees on Friday, the grotto was lifted and taken to the elevated new site intact. The 3-hour-long exercise ended at 12.30 p.m. at the cost of Rs. 85,000.