This year’s Dasara illumination is mediocre but the Circles are worse. Mysuru has turned into ‘flexuru’, thanks to the Government’s decision to hand over key Circles to private players.
What used to be iconic landmarks are now little more than giant hoardings.
Interestingly, according to sources, most of these companies were not interested to take over the Circles as they did not have enough time to create aesthetic designs but agreed to sponsor so as to not ‘upset’ the administration.
But here’s the burning question: If the Government is intent on selling off our public spaces to the highest bidder, then why did they bother increasing the Dasara budget?
And they did this while creatively sidestepping public tenders by invoking the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act.
For those not in the know, the KTPP Act allows the Government to bypass open bidding when it claims it ‘ran out of time.’ How convenient.
So, we’re left wondering — was the whole Dasara preparation process conveniently delayed just to activate this loophole and handpick the ‘right’ contractors?
Here’s where it gets truly puzzling: The Dasara budget ballooned from Rs. 29 crore last year to Rs. 40 crore this year. That’s a whopping Rs. 11 crore more, and yet, somehow, they still felt the need to hand over our beautiful Circles to private companies.
Now, instead of historic monuments, we’re greeted by enormous sponsor logos and political banners.
The District Administration appears to have forgotten that Mysuru is not just any city; it is a heritage city, where even a traffic Circle has historical significance, whether in its name, its design, or its location, which is meant to reflect the unique character of the city.
But now, under a barrage of gaudy lights, sponsor logos and political banners, these once-distinguished Circles are telling a different story — a story of administrative neglect, lack of imagination, and unbridled greed.
It is truly disheartening that the first impression tourists arriving from Bengaluru by road receive is no longer one of beauty or history, but of consumer products and political personalities.
This unregulated give-away of public spaces without the establishment of any proper guidelines has led to what can only be described as a visual assault.
Seeking sponsorship to improve public spaces isn’t inherently a bad idea. Done right, it can be a win-win situation — enhancing the city’s beauty while also attracting investment. But the way it’s been executed here is anything but right.
To begin with, the administration did not give sponsors enough time to plan and design their campaign.
Next, if public spaces like Circles or medians are to be leased to sponsors, there must be clear and enforceable ground rules, which we don’t have.
Other countries have stringent design approval committees for such purposes, often comprising experts from renowned advertising agencies or design institutions.
Why can’t Mysuru do the same? We could have a ‘Dasara Public Space Design’ Approval Committee which MUST comprise people from reputed design firms and schools such as the National Institute of Design or Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.
Such a Committee would ensure that sponsors adhere to basic aesthetic principles, like limiting the sponsor’s logo to no more than 20 percent of the space and ensuring that the advertisement blends harmoniously with the theme of Dasara and surrounding architecture.
Additionally, it could enforce rules that protect the physical structure of these heritage sites, ensuring that nothing is permanently damaged.
What we have now, however, is a chaotic free-for-all, where anyone with a banner can turn our historical Circles into personal billboards.
For years now, the city’s once-pristine Circles have been turned into medieval town squares, plastered with garish posters announcing everything from elections to festivals to, morbidly, even deaths. But MCC does nothing to stop this vandalism.
Way back in 2006, the MCC proposed to declare K.R. Circle, Five-Lights Circle, Ramaswamy Circle etc., as ‘hoarding-free’ zones and ban commercial hoardings within 100 metres of heritage sites. What happened? Nothing.
In 2009, MCC started an ‘illegal hoarding drive’, what happened? Nothing.
In 2011, MCC Commissioner K.S. Raikar made a grand announcement: “We held discussions with the City Police Commissioner and cases will be filed against those violating the MCC directive on flex boards.” What happened? Nothing.
Earlier this year, in 2024 the MCC Commissioner said that they have issued notices and asked the Zonal Commissioners to clear out the flex… what happened? Nothing.
Today, flex posters not only remain all around heritage Circles and buildings, but they have also now become part of the structure and with that part of Dasara too!
What a sad reflection of incompetence, of a District Administration, of a Royal Heritage City, one that hosts a world-famous festival!
Unless the MCC really flexes its muscles against flex, our city will become ‘Flex City’ and unless they make rules for sponsors of Circles during Dasara, then Historic Circles will end up as ‘Billboards.’
At this rate of callousness, myopic vision and greed, Mysore Palace may be the next big Dasara hoarding with sponsors’ logo adorning the Palace domes.
We are doomed.
e-mail: vikram@starofmysore.com
This post was published on October 5, 2024 6:05 pm