The Tipu Sultan’s armoury near the Srirangapatna railway station is in a bad state. The monument, which is under the protection of the Department of Archaeology, has been losing its charm owing to poor maintenance and neglect.
The 18th Century monument has been vandalised by graffiti and has become a den for anti-social elements. The armoury is littered with discarded liquor bottles, cigarette butts and condom packets, and a constant stench hangs heavy in the air.
According to residents of the locality abutting the tracks, the railway authorities lock the toilets at the station for most part of the day to prevent local people from using them.
As a result, local people and passengers have turned the historical armoury into a public toilet, a Srirangapatna Town Municipal Council officer said.
Admitting that people are dumping waste and using the monument to relieve themselves, T.S. Gangadhar, Director for the State Archaeology (Mysuru), said the department would soon initiate measures to protect the armoury.
“We will post a guard and lock the entrance of the armoury. Also, we will clear the premises of vegetation,” C.G. Betsurmath, Commissioner of State Archaeology, told The Hindu .
The monument has been hindering the progress of track-doubling between Bengaluru and Mysuru. It has been decided to shift the monument to a new site 100 metres away so that the track-doubling work can progress.
A private firm has been awarded the tender for the translocation work, which will commence in two months, Railway sources here said.
