The Karnataka Exhibition Authority’s (KEA) long-pending proposal to have a round-the-year exhibition at Doddakere maidan in the city has gained momentum, with the authorities taking steps to invite tenders for a master plan for establishing a permanent exhibition centre.
The centre will not only feature commercial stalls and a food court, but also an amusement park.
KEA Chief Executive Officer Shashi Kumar told The Hindu that a meeting held in Bengaluru earlier this month had taken stock of the situation. Tenders will soon be invited. Mr. Kumar said the centre will be promoted as an MICE destination for meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions.
As it would be strategically located between the Mysuru zoo and Mysuru palace, it could turn into a popular tourist destination. If used for holding expos, it could also be promoted as another tourist destination, along with the Chamundi Hills and the Karanji lake.
The KEA premises is spread across 80 acres of land and is used for Dasara Exhibition for around three months, besides the Summer Exhibition for around 45 days during April and May.
It has sufficient parking space and six restrooms, he said.
Expos only at KEA?
The authorities are likely to deny permission for consumer exhibitions to be held in places other than on the KEA premises?
According to Mr. Kumar, the Principal Secretary to the Department of Tourism Naveen Raj Singh has written to Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep to permit consumer exhibitions to be held only on KEA premises.
Maharaja’s College Grounds and adjoining Scouts & Guides Grounds behind the Deputy Commissioner’s office are the usual favoured venues for holding exhibitions.
“All such exhibitions will have to be held at the permanent exhibition centre,” Mr. Kumar added.
Snow World coming to Mysuru
The city could soon have a new tourist attraction — a Snow World.
The KEA has proposed to come up with a state-of-the-art Snow World, recreating freezing temperatures in a snowy amusement park. “We have planned it under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model,” Mr. Kumar told The Hindu .
It is to come up on 1.5 to 2 acres of land on the KEA premises.
