The Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has brought in a new norm described as ‘revolutionary and far-sighted’, for granting permission for land conversions. Keeping in mind the need for service roads to provide space for the increasing traffic density in Mysore.
Future applications for conversion of land to commercial purpose must make available 10 feet wide stretch of land if within the city jurisdiction and 30 feet land to the local administration (MUDA or Mysore City Corporation) at the adjoining ring roads, national or State highways free of cost.
Describing it as revolutionary, Mysore Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta said, after having witnessed planned growth during the period of the Maharajas, Mysore now faced problems of haphazard traffic as the number of vehicles are increasing and new commercial set ups are coming up. Taking note of the situation in Bangalore, the MUDA had taken the above decision to see that the heritage city did not go the Bangalore way and face traffic bottlenecks.
MUDA would permit conversion of land from residential to commercial purposes only if the specified land area is offered free of cost for building service roads as service roads become essential in the coming days, he said.
“MUDA’s far-sighted decision can be a model for other civic corporations,” the Deputy Commissioner, who is also the MUDA chairman, said.
Another important decis-ion the MUDA had taken at its meeting during the week was not to receive or take up any fresh proposals for conversion of land from agriculture to non-agricultural purposes as the authorities had taken up formulation of a master plan. In cases of those where payment was received for such land conversions, he said they would be decided depending upon their need and eligibility.
Instead of selling some vacant sites at its disposal, the MUDA had proposed the construction of residential complexes with private participation to meet the city’s housing needs at a lesser cost.
The MUDA meeting had also decided to convert the historic Banni Mantap par-ade grounds into a cricket stadium of international standards. With three stands proposed, the stadium can accommodate more people and could be more suitable for the annual Dasara torchlight parade too, Gupta said.
It has also taken a decision to construct a Bal Bhavan at Paduvarahalli, opposite the Kukkarahalli Tank, on the Hunsur Road as it was located in a central place and was suitable for children’s activities. Presently, Bal Bhavan’s activities are held at Banni Mantap grounds.
The foundation-stone for Dr Ambedkar Bhavan will be laid topwards the end of October. A Rs 9-crore blue print had been drafted and the initial stage would cost Rs 4.5 crore.
The auditorium would accommodate 5,000 people. While Rs 2 crore was in hand, while the rest could be collected from the MUDA, Mysore City Corporation and zilla panchayat while for the second stage from the MPs and legislators from their funds.
