Railway officials threatened school staff with consequences, alleges Head Master

Mysuru: The over a century-old Government High School at Vontikoppal (V.V. Mohalla), opposite Sri Lakshmivenkataramanaswamy Temple and the Yadavagiri Government Higher Primary School are under threat from a proposed South Western Railway (SWR) housing project.

Following a series of reports in Star of Mysore and its sister publication Mysuru Mithra, which highlighted concerns that SWR’s proposed construction could adversely affect the schools, the Department of Public Instruction invoked the Karnataka Government Educational

Institutions Land (Protection and Regulation) Act, 2026 and urged the Tahsildar to safeguard the institutions’ land.

Acting on the request, officials of the City Survey Department, led by Assistant Director of Land Records M.D. Chikkanna, conducted a detailed survey of the 108-year-old school campus and the surrounding area. Survey maps have been prepared and submitted to the Tahsildar for further action.

The controversy centres on the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway’s proposal to construct a multi-storey residential complex, an indoor stadium and an auditorium adjacent to the schools. Teachers and parents fear the project could threaten the future of the institutions and affect students.

Warning to school staff

Tensions escalated on July 20 when some railway officials visited the Vontikoppal school campus and allegedly threatened the Head Master and teachers. They reportedly warned that if the construction was delayed or obstructed, the resulting losses would have to be borne by the school authorities.

Head Master Mahesh told Star of Mysore: “Railway staff are coming here and intimidating us. We have said the matter must be resolved through discussions with senior officials before any work proceeds. Yet they insist that any delay or loss will be our responsibility.”

The survey report has now been submitted to Tahsildar, whose decision is expected to determine whether the schools’ historic campus remains protected or makes way for the railway project.