The broad median shoring up the heritage character of Krishnaraja Boulevard in the city has turned into a parking lot for private vehicles underlining the diminishing importance of retaining the splendour of a bygone era.
Once recognised for its magnificence and maintained regularly with grills protecting the median, the boulevard has been ignored in recent years.
The double road is dotted with structures that have local historical importance and are included in the list of heritage buildings.
As the grills guarding the wide medians have been systematically removed over the last few months, there are no lawns, the trees not watered and the boulevard is unkempt and is now reduced to a parking lot.
Vehicle parking is rampant in front of the court and in front of the Maharaja’s College grounds whenever exhibitions and fairs are conducted.
The boulevard spans more than 1 km in length making it one of the more graceful thoroughfares of the city reflecting the glory of old Mysuru but the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has reportedly turned a blind eye towards the creeping decay.
Heritage expert and retired professor of ancient history and archaeology, University of Mysore, N.S. Rangaraju said that the boulevard is one of the 15 roads identified by the MCC for its heritage value and where the building bylaws have to conform to the prevailing norms so that the heritage value is not diminished.
“But it is regrettable that the authorities have not maintained the boulevard despites its importance and allowed its conversion to a parking lot,” he added
The cluster of heritage structures dotting the wide double road includes the city court complex, the Urs Boarding School, a few residential structures, the Maharaja’s College Hostel, Maharaja’s College, Yuvaraja’s College and the Oriental Research Institute at the other end. While the boulevard per se terminates ahead of the ORI complex, the road joins the Hunsur Road and has a few more important structures along that particular stretch and they include the Crawford Hall which is the administrative seat of the University of Mysore and the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
