The Mysuru zoo’s long-awaited wish of developing a multi-storied parking facility is likely to see the light of the day.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s promise to release funds towards realising this facility has raised hopes.
The zoo’s proposal of constructing the multi-level parking lot for accommodating a large number of buses and cars had failed to get the government’s nod. The project did not get a green signal even under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission under which Mysuru got crores of rupees for development work.
The current parking facility in front of the zoo is inadequate considering the volume of tourist arrivals to the city, especially during the Dasara, public holidays, and weekends. The land belongs to the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), which had been given to the zoo on lease.
The Mysuru zoo management has been seeking the MCC’s NoC for building the parking facility that largely eases parking crisis and benefits tourists visiting other destinations such as Mysuru palace, which is located in the city centre.
The Chief Minister, who visited the zoo to inaugurate its 125th anniversary celebrations, promised to clear the zoo’s parking proposal. This demand was put forth by the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK), which also sought funds for the incomplete aquarium project.
The ZAK’s larger plan was to link the proposed parking facility and the zoo premises with an underpass that prevents visitors from crossing the busy narrow road in front of the zoo and causing traffic congestion.
Stakeholders in the tourism sector felt that the ZAK has to speed up its efforts of getting the project cleared at least now with the Chief Minister, who also holds the Finance portfolio, giving an assurance to release funds.
The ZAK has to now get a clearance certificate from the MCC for going ahead with the construction since the land belongs to it.
Around 3.3 million tourists visit the zoo in about three lakh vehicles annually. During the Dasara, roads get choked and tourists face hardship in getting proper parking space. Tourist arrivals in Mysuru are exceptionally high during weekends and public holidays. This results in sporadic traffic jams (in the city centre and on the Bengaluru–Mysuru Highway).
