The century-old Devaraja Market will soon get back its lost charm, with its renovation under way at a brisk pace under the Heritage Conservation Project.
The work has been taken up in phases to avoid eviction of tenants and facilitate business at the market. This decision was taken after the tenants opposed their eviction when the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) proposed renovation of the market. At present, the rear portion is being restored. Vegetable vendors, who used to hawk in this portion, are doing business just outside the market now.
MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath told The Hindu that the restoration is being done as per heritage norms. The work is expected to be completed in one-and-a-half years.
The project is estimated to cost around Rs. 9 crore, with Rs. 5 crore needed for civil works such as flooring, electrical works, water supply, underground drainage and so on. The remaining amount has been set aside for restoring the structure of the building, which has become weak over time. The building was constructed using lime and mortar and the same will be used for its restoration, Mr. Betsurmath said.
The Devaraja Market building was once described as the “model market” of the country. It was built by the erstwhile Mysuru kings.
The dilapidated condition of the market came into focus when the roof of three shops collapsed in November 2005. There were no casualties as the roof had caved at night during heavy rain.
After the incident, MCC recommended giving the market a facelift and asked the tenants to vacate temporarily. But the tenants refused to shift unless provided an alternative area to carry out their business.
Later, the corporation even served them eviction notice under Section 322 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, which gives the civic body’s commissioner the power to evict occupants of buildings that are in a dilapidated condition.
But despite this, and the multiple reminders of the risks of conducting business in a building in poor shape, the tenants stayed put. All this delayed the market’s renovation.
Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa inspected the works along with officials on Thursday.
