Sir,

M.G. Road is one among the many arterial roads in Mysuru city that is battered and bruised far too often. There always seems to be some work underway on this stretch throughout the year, making one wonder whether the Public Works Department is on the job or if an archaeological excavation is in progress.

The worst comes once the so-called “work” is completed. After months of dragging on at a leisurely pace, the closure happens in a hurry — the workers vanish overnight, leaving behind a patchwork of sand and gravel. The road is then left to the manoeuvring skills of motorists to avoid accidents. For proper restoration with tar, the road must usually wait until next election.

A classic example is the stretch near the Ramanuja Road intersection, where underground pipe work kept the road in a dilapidated state for months. But suddenly this week, the road has been given a fresh coat of tar, and all the potholes have miraculously disappeared. At first, one might wonder if a by-election has been announced.

A glance at Star of Mysore clarified the reason: President Droupadi Murmu’s limousine and her convoy are set to drive from Radisson Hotel to AIISH via M.G. Road next week.

Even during the visits of the CM, Deputy CM and other VIPs in the past, this road did not get such attention. It seems to have earned the unique distinction of being restored only for the     President’s visit!

It is truly pathetic that the common man is left to struggle for months on end, while roadworks are undertaken at lightning speed for a few minutes of VIP travel. Still, as the saying goes, better late than never!

– S. Sekar, Agrahara, 28.8.2025

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