Mysuru: Srirangapatna MLA and CESC Chairman Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda inspected Dasara illumination works on various roads in Mysuru yesterday night.

The inspection came against the backdrop of complaints that nails, clamps & hooks were being driven into trees to fix lights. Bandisiddegowda directed CESC officials to ensure that no trees are damaged while putting up the illumination. He specifically told the officials not to use nails on trees and to take care of trees while installing lights.

He was accompanied by CESC Superintending Engineer (SE) Sunil Kumar and former CESC MD K.M. Munigopalraju, who is now an advisor to the CESC Chairman. He visited Hunsur Road, Chamaraja Double Road and other parts of Central Business District to inspect feeder lines, street illumination and other electrical infrastructure. He also visited Sanskrit Pathshala, Palace route and CADA Office to check line testing and clearances.

Nylon ropes used

Sunil Kumar explained that nylon ropes are being used to tie the lights to trees and that nails, pins and clamps are not being used. The CESC team is also removing old nails and clamps from the trees.

This year, Rs. 13.77 crore has been earmarked for Dasara illumination and the drone show. The allocation for illumination has gone up from Rs. 6 crore last year to Rs. 9.5 crore this year, an increase of Rs. 3.5 crore. The drone show budget has been increased from Rs. 3.75 crore in 2025 to Rs. 4.27 crore this year, an increase of Rs. 52 lakh.

According to CESC tender documents and details on its website, illumination tenders worth Rs. 7,89,91,917 have been invited this year as part of the State Government’s plans to celebrate Dasara on a grand scale.

CESC SE Sunil Kumar explaining about the illumination works.

Review meeting

Before the inspection, Bandisiddegowda chaired a review meeting at the CESC auditorium yesterday to discuss preparations for Dasara illumination.

He directed officials to come up with new designs and concepts for this year’s illumination and stressed the need for proper planning and coordination. He said, the responsibility was greater this year and asked the officials to come up with illumination designs that had not been seen in Mysuru in the past three years.

He said, the illumination should reflect the vision and expectations of CM D.K. Shivakumar and asked officials to share ideas and work together to implement them.

Bandisiddegowda also asked officials to take suggestions from those who had handled illumination works in the past.

CESC Director (Technical) L. Lokesh, other officials and electrical contractors were present.