SC to hear fate of Devaraja Market, Lansdowne Building on July 30: Don’t entrust restoration work to PWD: Pramoda Devi

Mysore/Mysuru: Reiterating her opposition to the demolition of the Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building and advocating their proper restoration and rejuvenation, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysore royal family has urged the Karnataka Government not to entrust the restoration works to the Public Works  Department (PWD).

In a press release issued this morning, she said the restoration and renovation of the two heritage structures should instead be handed over to a specialised agency with proven expertise in heritage conservation.

“The agency should not only restore and renovate the structures but also maintain them for at least five years after completion to ensure accountability and long-term preservation,” she said. Her statement comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s directive that the Devaraja  Market and the Lansdowne Building in the heart of Mysuru be preserved.

Taking note of a report submitted by an IIT Roorkee committee, a Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi observed on May 4 that both heritage structures should be protected and necessary renovation and restoration works be undertaken.

“A comprehensive plan needs to be prepared by the administration,” the Bench had observed, while directing that steps be taken at the earliest to prevent further damage to the buildings. The next hearing has been posted for July 30, 2026.

Earlier efforts recalled

Welcoming the Apex Court verdict, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said she was delighted that the long-neglected heritage structures would now be restored and rejuvenated.

Recalling earlier efforts to preserve the Devaraja Market, Pramoda Devi said during the tenure of present Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy as MCC Commissioner, she had offered through the His Highness SrikantadattaNarasimharaja Wadiyar (HHSNW) Foundation to restore a portion of the market as a demonstration project.

“The intention was to prove that the structure could be restored using traditional materials and methods originally employed in its construction. However, the proposal was shelved due to pending litigation,” she stated.

She noted that the Lansdowne building had immense commercial potential because of its prime location while the Devaraja Market represented one of the earliest concepts comparable to a modern-day shopping mall.

“I am happy that the litigation was pursued in the interest of preserving these two historic buildings for future generations.”