The Mysore City Corporation’s plans to widen Irwin road has been strongly opposed by the ‘Committee to Oppose Widening of Irwin road’.
The committee suggested making the road one-way as an alternative solution to widening citing examples such as Devaraj Urs road and Ashoka road. Widening of the heritage road to ease traffic congestion is not the only solution, the committee said, adding that a number of buildings, including Wellington Lodge constructed in 1799, State Bank of Mysuru, Ayurvedic College and Central Post Office, are situated on the road. Road widening would certainly demolish or disfigure the structures, it said.
The committee demanded that the district administration form an expert committee to study and suggest how the road could be made one-way and construct footpaths on either side of the road. It noted that the Bangalore City Corporation had not thought of widening roads like Commercial Street and Chickpet owing to the problems that may rise. The office-bearers of the committee suggested that the suburban bus-stand could be shifted to the newly-built KSRTC complex on Outer Ring Road to prevent heavy vehicles from entering the city.
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They said that Pulikeshi road and Akbar road could be converted into one-way and vehicle traffic on Irwin road could be diverted to either roads. Office-bearer Mahadev Prasad said the city police had converted these roads into one-way during Dasara and were successful in managing the traffic.