‘New Mysuru' raises new concerns as State govt. outlines ambitious plan for the city
On the surface, it may as well be the Greater Mysuru project which envisages bringing in 30 to 40 villages under a single administrative body and for which there is political demand.
But the concept spelt out by Minister for Urban Development Byrathi Suresh in Bengaluru on Thursday goes beyond a mere notification of 'Greater Mysuru'.
Mr. Suresh said that the New Mysuru project was being conceived in view of the city's growth and the imperatives of integrated development and infrastructure upgrade, while retaining its heritage character.
The new concept envisages focused development of Mysuru with a thrust on key areas or 'five pillars', as stated by the Minister, and they are industrial growth, skilling, enhancing the living standards, tourism promotion, and emphasis on mobility.
The Minister said Mysuru will be promoted as a manufacturing hub with state-of-the-art facilities, while under skilling, the focus will be on skill and entrepreneurial development and position Mysuru as a preferred destination for investors.
Under tourism promotion, the focus will be on establishing comprehensive wellness and rejuvenation centres tapping Mysuru's reputation as a hub for yoga, ayurveda, and relatively cleaner environment. The mobility aspect entails exploring a rapid metro project for the city.
For the project to take shape and investors to be lured, the government plans 'swift land allotment' through innovation-driven policies, and the entire project will be implemented through a PPP model, said the Minister.
On the surface, the concept of New Mysuru appears to make the city a blend of heritage and modernity. But given the government's track record in urban planning and the sordid saga under MUDA, the New Mysuru concept is bound to raise fresh concerns among citizens who are keen to retain at least the last remining vestiges of a once green Mysuru.
The struggle to conserve the city lakes and its environment including the Chamundi Hills, concern over reduction in the green cover of Mysuru and its lung space, the outrage over rampant tree-felling, the frustration over failure to conserve heritage buildings, etc., are pointers to how unbridled urbanisation can erode the essence of Mysuru's identity, destroy its ecological balance and diminish the quality of life for residents.
If investment and industrial expansion were to be encouraged without assessing the city's carrying capacity, it could abet chaotic and unbridled horizontal sprawl of Mysuru overriding the masterplan which will remain a piece of legislation on paper. Already, the traffic volume and the resultant congestion is beyond the city's capacity to handle such growth.
Going by Bengaluru's experience, it could as well be that the city's real estate and industrial growth could outpace infrastructure leading to patchy development with traffic gridlock, water crisis, environmental degradation and lower quality of life.
For the New Mysuru to be a true model of sustainability and inclusive urban development, the government must engage meaningfully with genuine stakeholders — including informed citizens, planners, and experts. But it is relying on feedback from political loyalists and vested interests.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Meghalaya govt earmarks 3 locations in Shillong to relocate street vendors
Shillong, To regulate street vending and streamline urban spaces in the state capital, the Meghalaya government has earmarked three locations to relocate over 400 eligible street vendors besides offering relocation allowance of ₹ 20,000, officials said on Wednesday. Meghalaya govt earmarks 3 locations in Shillong to relocate street vendors "We have identified three locations within the prime location of the city to relocate the street vendors. They are - inside the MUDA parking lot and outside the complex, the municipal parking lot opposite SBI Main Branch," a senior Urban Affairs department official told PTI. He said a digital in-situ survey conducted across 23 locations in the city between December 2023 and January 2024 identified 1,400 vendors of which 760 were found eligible. In Khyndailad alone, 457 vendors were surveyed, with 407 declared eligible during hearing processes for claims and objections which were held between February and May 2025, he said. As relocation processes began last week under the provisions of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, several hawkers protested. The hawkers protested on Tuesday at the entrance of the main secretariat violating orders issued by the district administration prohibiting protest near the secretariat. East Khasi Hills district SP Vivek Syiem said the magistrate on duty had filed an FIR in this regard. The Police have also registered four FIRs filed by members of the hawkers and five FIRs filed by the officials from the Shillong Municipal Board. The Urban Affairs department also noted that the entire enforcement and relocation drive is being conducted in compliance with directions from the Meghalaya High Court, which is monitoring the process under two PILs related to street vending and traffic congestion. Authorities say the exercise will gradually extend to other localities in Shillong and is part of a long-term plan to ensure that street vending is both lawful and orderly, balancing urban convenience with the protection of vendors' livelihoods. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
No Talk Of Change Of Chief Minister By High Command: Siddaramaiah's Son
Bengaluru: Amid mounting speculation over a potential leadership change in Karnataka, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has strongly dismissed the rumours, asserting that his father has the full backing of both the party high command and legislators. He, a Member of the Legislative Council, underlined that his father will complete his five-year term as Chief Minister. Junior Siddaramaiah's statement comes amid repeated comments from Congress MLAs and ministers hinting at a political churn towards the end of the year. Minister KN Rajanna's recent statement has fuelled most of the speculation. "Between 2013 and 2018, there was just one power centre. Now there are one, two, three, several power centres. When power centres increase, the issues also increase. Most people have an opinion that they are not seeing the Siddaramaiah of 2013. Let September pass, then we will talk about all this," said Mr Rajanna. Adding to the speculation, Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar, speaking during a Kempegowda Jayanti event on Friday, offered glowing praise for DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah's Deputy, "As I end my speech, I want to remember DK Shivakumar, the leader whom I trust and dream of. I wish that his future is bright, and he takes one more step forward in his political career." Yathindra Siddaramaiah's remarks are the most definitive rebuttal yet from the Siddaramaiah camp. "Repeated statements are being made because there are certain factions that want to become CM, so they keep trying to spread rumours," he said. "But from the time the government was formed, Siddaramaiah has had the support of the high command and will continue to do so. The legislators also support Siddaramaiah. Therefore, he will continue for five years. The high command has never said they will change the CM or given any hints in this regard," he added. Asked about Mr Rajanna's comments, the Chief Minister's son said, "Only the minister can explain the context of his statement." He noted that such rumours have been circulating since the formation of the government. "From the beginning, there had been talk that Siddaramaiah would be removed within six months. Later, it was said he would be replaced after the MUDA case came to light - but nothing of the sort has happened," he said. As Karnataka continues to witness a tug-of-war between factions backing Siddaramaiah and those supporting DK Shivakumar, the political spotlight now turns to September, the month increasingly being seen as a possible turning point.
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka: ED attaches ₹4 cr worth assets in Aishwarya Gowda 'fraud' case
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday said it has attached assets worth about ₹ 4 crore as part of a money laundering investigation against a Karnataka-based woman, who is alleged to have cheated a number of people by threatening and claiming proximity to "high profile" politicians. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested the woman -- 33-year-old Aishwarya Gowda -- earlier in April. Congress leader D K Suresh, the younger brother of Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, appeared before the federal probe agency and recorded his statement in this case on Monday in Bengaluru. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested the woman -- 33-year-old Aishwarya Gowda -- earlier in April following searches against her, Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni and some others. The provisionally attached properties include flats, building and land worth ₹ 2.01 crore apart from cash and ₹ 1.97 crore vehicle, the ED said in a statement. An order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was issued on June 19 for attaching these properties, it added. The total value of the attached properties is ₹ 3.98 crore, the ED said. The ED did not specify in the statement as to whom the attached assets belonged to. The money laundering case against Gowda, her husband Harish K N and some others stems from multiple FIRs filed by Karnataka Police against them. The allegation in the FIRs is that Gowda, her husband and others have entered into a "criminal conspiracy" to defraud and cheat several individuals by taking gold, cash and funds through bank accounts promising high rate of returns, the agency said. However, it said, that the accused neither returned the money nor gave the promised return and also "threatened" the investors of dire consequences in case of further pursuance of the matter by "claiming her proximity to various high profile politicians". Gowda is alleged to have used the name of D K Suresh, a former MP, and claimed to be his sister. Suresh had denied knowing her and filed a police complaint against her. He spoke to the press in Bengaluru before appearing before the agency. "The ED issued a notice asking me to appear before the investigation officer at 11 am. So, accordingly, I am reaching there. They had sought some information. So, today I am meeting the ED officers with my lawyer," Suresh said. He said that this case was unrelated to him. "I am unable to understand why the notice was served to me. I was the one who had lodged a complaint with the police commissioner against the woman, who had orally said that she is my sister. I have no connection with the cheating case," Suresh said.
