Arches at main entry points to Mysore

Addressing the mediapersons here on Monday, Ramadas, who is also the district in-charge minister of Mysore, said the design and estimate of the arches would be finalised soon.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda will lay the foundation for the arches during the first day of festivities. The arches will be completed in time to celebrate 100 years of the Mysore Palace in 2012, he added. He said the government has completed the formalities of constituting sub-committees to organise programmes for the Nadda Habba. Gowda has convened a high-level meeting on September 15 in Mysore to review the preparations for Dasara festivities.

Dasara Authority

He reiterated that the government is keen to constitute a Dasara Authority to plan and organise the festivities in an orderly manner and give a greater thrust to tourism, culture and heritage of the region.

The role of the authority would not just be confined to preparing for Dasara but also similar events elsewhere in Mysore division. It is proposed to bring tourism, heritage, art and cultural components too under its ambit, he said.

A separate enclosure for foreign tourists will be set up near the Palace gates to watch the Dasara procession, he said.

The district administration had commenced the task of identifying heritage buildings in the city, he added.

Rural dasara will be inaugurated on September 28 much before the main event, he said.