Sir,

I write to express my dismay over a development at the premises of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), South Western Railway, Mysuru Division.

During my visit yesterday, I witnessed the ground surrounding the iconic heritage building being cleaned and prepared for the laying of concrete interlocking tiles, spanning an estimated 300 metres in length and 8 metres in width. While this may appear to enhance surface aesthetics or ease maintenance, it undermines critical environmental principles.

Open-to-sky ground surfaces play a vital role in allowing rainwater to percolate and recharge the groundwater table — an issue of increasing concern across urban India. Both Government policies and environmental organisations consistently advocate for minimising the concretisation of open spaces, especially around heritage and civic structures.

It is deeply troubling that such a decision has been implemented within the grounds of a reputed public institution like the Railways, which is expected to uphold sustainability and responsibility.

I urge the Railway authorities to reconsider this action and halt the tiling work. Preserving permeable ground not only supports water conservation but also honours the character of the heritage building and its ecological context.

— B.V. Raghavachar, Mysuru, 8.7.2025

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