‘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.
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