Guess which project is back on the table — “wannabe” Disneyland! Yes, the Karnataka State Cabinet has cleared a proposal to develop Brindavan Gardens along the lines of Disneyland!

This new “wannabe” Disneyland, though tentatively christened as Cauvery Brindavan Amusement Park, is not a new project.

In 2018, H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was the CM had a dream — turn KRS into Disneyland. Guess it was a day-dream because he wanted to do it at a cost of just Rs. 5 crore!

This time around the State government is budgeting Rs. 2,663 crore and going for a Public-Private Partnership! But is it viable? We highly doubt it.

The smallest Disneyland is in Hong Kong and it was completed in 2005. The Hong Kong government had invested US$ 3.2 billion (around Rs. 25,000 core) and Disney invested around US$ 314 million (Rs. 2,500 crore), and we are trying to build a similar version for just Rs. 2,663 core?

Our government can’t even maintain a small Bal Bhavan in our city and they want to build Disneyland in Brindavan Gardens?

One would think a responsible government would be concerned that all that heavy duty construction work could damage the structural integrity of the KRS Dam, especially considering there are already concerns about cracks on the dam due to rock blasting at the quarry nearby that has now been banned!

But alas the government doesn’t seem too concerned. There is another surprise: The proposal for this Amusement Park did not come from the Tourism Department, instead it came from the Irrigation Department!

We must ask, is it a government’s job to create Amusement Parks? Governments as much as possible should only regulate not participate, especially considering that existing tourist spots run by governments are not well maintained.

In our city too all four major tourist attractions managed by the government — Mysore Palace, Brindavan Gardens, Mysuru Zoo and Chamundi Hill — are not in the most “tourist-friendly”  shape, first fix that.

Mysuru it seems is becoming a city where politicians are desperate to put up projects, however ridiculous and unviable.

Over the years we have had various proposals like Aquarium, Mysore Eye, Ropeway, Akshardham-like Park in front of Lalitha Mahal and now Cauvery Brindavan Amusement Park!

Most of these projects are unsustainable, unfinished or money is spent on just getting Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Some may recall in 2012 MUDA had allocated Rs.50 lakh to get a DPR for a proposed park right in front of Lalitha Mahal Palace.

The proposal was like a child’s fantasy; it had everything — A Sound & Light Show, an exhibition, animatronics (robotic moving objects), a musical fountain, a big movie screen (IMAX), a regular theatre, an open air theatre, yoga centre, laser show and a battery-operated train!

That’s not all. There was going to be an artificial river flowing around this park and on the banks would be eye-catching statues and paintings showcasing the grandeur of the city. They said they want to make it like Akshardham in New Delhi.

First, the Delhi Akshardham is on an area of more than 100 acres and on the banks of river Yamuna? Our MUDA was planning to make a similar one in just under 30 acres with an artificial stream running around the park!

Thankfully the project died.

Similarly in 2012 there was a proposal to build a ‘Sky Wheel,’ a super-sized giant wheel atop Chamundi Hill on the lines of London Eye in England! 

The proposal made me giddy, here is why. The London Eye in England which is built on the ground took 7 years to construct at a cost of around Rs.600 crore. Meanwhile our Karnataka government claimed that it could do it atop a Hill in just four months and in under Rs. 30 crore!

Thankfully the project died.

When it comes to tourism our Karnataka government is always making ‘mini’ and ‘semi’ of everything that’s grand and great abroad — mini-London Eye, mini-Disneyland and mini-Aquarium and all are semi-planned and semi-complete.

Now, before our government plans to build an Amusement Park in Brindavan Gardens, we request they fix the unmotorable roads leading   to the Gardens.

Spending Rs. 2,663 crore on a cheap-looking Amusement Park that will never see profits; worse, ruin an otherwise serene tourist destination like Brindavan Gardens; and most dangerous,  affect the structural integrity of the crucial KRS Dam, is not wise. Government, be warned.

If the government sincerely wants to improve tourism, let them first improve access and                      facilities to the already existing popular tourist destinations.

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