MUDA’s Master Plan – 2031 lists  Vinoba Road from Metropole Circle to Valmiki Road as ‘Heritage Road’

By Maj. Gen. (Retd.) S.G. Vombatkere

Mysuru: The project to straighten Hunsur Road between Kalamandira and Valmiki Road will destroy the heritage ambience of that section of road which is bordered on both sides with trees which are over 100 years old and heritage precincts of similar vintage.

It is to protect this heritage that nearly 1,000 people of Mysuru City from over a dozen voluntary organisations turned out on Sunday, Oct. 22 and formed a “human chain” to object to the project which was purportedly meant to prevent road traffic accidents on this 450-metres stretch of the road. The human chain was not merely an objection. The people assembled because they felt that the curve on the road was not the cause for accidents and suggested the means of preventing accidents without straightening the road, which would result in loss of heritage.

These points were informed by Mysore Grahakara Parishat to the Chief Minister, Mysore’s District-in-Charge Minister, MP for Mysuru, the MLA concerned, Deputy Commissioner, the DCF, and the project work engineer, sending them a Technical Review Report and requesting that the matter be discussed before starting work.

A simple reading of MUDA’s Master Plan – 2031 Volume-1 Page 77, reveals that Vinoba Road from Metropole Circle (now named Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Circle) to Valmiki Road is listed at Serial 4(h) as a “Heritage Road”.

The ignorance or couldn’t-care-less attitude of the very authorities which have sanctioned the Master Plan and are responsible to propagate and implement it, is resulting in its flagrant violation if the work is commenced.

However, the authorities appear bent upon continuing with the work since it is reported in media that the inauguration by MP Pratap Simha, is to be held on Monday, 6th November. Pratap Simha may be unaware of the fact that he will be inaugurating a work which will violate Mysore’s heritage.