Broken railings, weeds and shrubs, stray cattle and dogs feeding on refuse, leaves withering from the trees littered...
This is the current pathetic picture of ‘modern boulevard’ on Vishwamanava Double Road in Kuvempunagar in the city.
The 1.2 km long boulevard that earlier enhanced the very look of the road especially after the stretch from Kukkarahalli up to Dr Sri Shivakumaraswamy Circle (near Basudev Somani College) was widened, making for a two lane, is now in peril.
When the particular road was widened after clearing the footpath encroachments on left side (from Kukkarahalli lake side) a few years ago, the existing green area in the middle was covered with railings, besides laying Mexican grass and ornamental lamps lending a makeover to the place.
Sources told Deccan Herald, Mysore City Corporation (MCC) entrusted the task of its maintenance to a successful bidder, besides making provision for putting up pole boards to rent out the space for advertisers.
About six months ago, the city corporation blacklisted the particular firm and handed over the maintenance to another firm, again through a tender.
But, the previous party had moved court, challenging the decision of the local body to blacklist. An officer on condition of anonymity told this newspaper that the court has recently passed an order instructing the city corporation to award the job to the next successful bidder and remove the previous party from the blacklist, thus allowing the latter to take up similar works at other places. The officer exuded confidence that the boulevard will return to its past glory, once things fall in place.
First Boulevard
The very first boulevard was developed between Oriental Research Institute (ORI) and Law Court complex junction during the period of rule of then Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. How it became a reality is another interesting story. Historian Prof P V Nanjaraj Urs said- Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar accompanied by his dewan Sir Mirza Ismail was travelling through the road, when he had first hand experience of the road that was unfit to travel.
In despair, the ruler asked the dewan ‘Why did you name it after me?’ The dewan who found himself in a fix, developed the road along with a boulevard. It went on to become the famous ‘Krishnaraja boulevard’, a landmark. It was followed by Narasimharaja boulevard, named after Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar (younger brother of Nalwadi) from Karanji lake junction to Lalitha Mahal Palace Gate. However, it disappeared, when the road was widened.
