Sir,

I would like to draw the attention of the citizens of Mysuru to the full-page article titled ‘Another Ostrich Policy of KSRTC’ in Star of Mysore dated Dec. 25, 2024, explaining  the dangers of locating a new Bus Terminal at Bannimantap.

And a front-page news published in Star of Mysore dated Jan. 3, 2025 states that the Cabinet has approved the proposal sent by KSRTC. With this the New Bus Terminal is definitely coming up and probably coming up pretty fast!

Many reports had pointed out that KSRTC’s City Bus Stand at K.R. Circle is the main cause for traffic congestion in Central Business District (CBD). Yet it went on to spend huge amounts to develop this Terminal, making the traffic still worse.

When it built a few Bus Terminals on or at the periphery of the ORR, it was expected that they may become new centres in diverting inward and outward flow of bus traffic within the city. Nothing of that sort happened.

Ironically, even when the Rural Bus Stand on Bengaluru-Nilgiri (B.N.) Road had become congested causing huge traffic snarls and inconveniences to the users, KSRTC went on to spend huge funds and rebuilt the entire Bus Terminal. Only to find it insufficient for bus services!  And Parking.

Now KSRTC is going ahead with another faux pas with the upcoming Bus Stand on Nelson Mandela Road in              Bannimantap.

As it is, the current traffic on Nelson Mandela Road (Bannimantap Main Road) is adequately congested. And the new Bannimantap Bus Terminal will put the entire surrounding residential and commercial area into a huge traffic bottleneck. To start with 2,600 buses are going to shift their operation to this new terminal. But soon hundreds of buses will be added. 

Bannimantap is the final destination of Mysuru’s ten-day Dasara festivities. As a prelude to this, over a dozen Dasara elephants have their practice walks for nearly a month from the Mysore Palace to Bannimantap Torchlight Parade Grounds. Just imagine the worsened traffic situation at the junction of proposed Bus Stand on Nelson Mandela Road and the heritage Bannimantap where the Banni tree worship would take place on the tenth day of Dasara.

Interestingly, this new Bus Terminal will have to cater to the additional Dasara crowds and the resultant bus traffic!! Surely, this is a prescription for final destruction of Mysuru’s heritage.

Mysuru is already a victim to rapacious wrong decisions of MCC and MUDA. And KSRTC is equally guilty in this regard. Now that the Cabinet has given its approval, Mysureans have to protect themselves.

It is going to be a turning point for the heritage of Mysuru. The educational institutions, residents and the small-scale industrial units located in and around Bannimantap Extension will have to realise the ensuing danger and take up the matter appropriately. Time is ticking and urgent action is called for.

– R. Chandra Prakash, Mysuru, 3.1.2025

Note: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah MUST personally intervene immediately and undo the decision already taken by his Cabinet. Failing which, we are told, a PIL will be filed. It should NOT be a case of ‘Act in haste and regret at leisure’ as happened with the City Bus Stand at K.R. Circle and the Sub-Urban Bus Stand on B.N. Road.—KBG

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