To make it more interesting, the Chamundi Electricity Supply Company (Cesc) has come out with new ideas this time. “From the time Escoms came into existence, Cesc has always borne the cost of illumination during Dasara. However, in the earlier years, it was the Dasara samiti which used to bear the cost of illumination. Last year, the Cesc spent Rs 1.25 crore on illumination and another Rs 35 lakh was spent on power purchase,” said Cesc Managing Director P Bore Gowda.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said, realising that Dasara has a commercial value, this year, Cesc approached the sponsors to illuminate the circles and roads and to its surprise found that there were many who came forward to sponsor. Thus, Cesc has been able to save the cost on illumination, he said.

The works on most of the routes have been completed and on Septembe 28, the day Dasara begins, the lights will be switched on, he said.

Some of the major sponsors who are allotted illumantion works include NJY Contractors who are illuminating the road from Harding circle to LIC circle, a distance of 4.5 km and supply of Dasara Deepalankara-2011 and providing illumination of ‘Thamasoma Jyothirgamaya,’ insignia in green pandal on Sayyaji Rao Road at an estimated cost of Rs 12 lakh.

The Towell-REI Energy Solutions is illumating the road from Kurubarahally circle to Mahishasura statue atop Chamundi Hill, a distance of 6 km and illumination of KR Circle and Jayachamarjendra Circle at an estimated cost of Rs 7.5 lakh. They are using LED bulbs and this energy saving bulbs are being used for the first time. The Harding Circle which is also celebrating its centenary year, this year is being illuminated by Sona Motor, a TVS company which also is celebrating its hundredth year, said Bore Gowda.

Other sponsors include Sky Top Golf illuminating the road from Railway Station to Muda circle, Mysore Diary, Appollo Hosptial Groups, Merchants Association, Ashoka Road and Devraj Urs Road, Automotiv Axles, PG Shetty Construction, Ranga Rao and Sons, Genus Power, Khayathee Steels, Vikram Hospital, JK Tyres, Wipro, Kalidasa Road Merchants Association, Builders Association, Hotel Mahesh Prasad, L&T, MK Agro Tech, More Super Market, Jos Alukkas and HP Ltd.

Cesc is not being paid anything for illuminating these circles. However, the cost of energy required to illuminate all these places is being borne by Cesc itself which this year could cost about Rs 50 lakh, he said and added that the welcome sign being put up at a cost of Rs eight lakh and the cost of painting the electric poles is also being borne by his company.

There are 10 contractors who are doing the illumination work on the Dasara procession route, from Palace to Bannimantap.

Each circle will also have a theme for the illumination like in ‘Unity in Diversity’ near the Government Guest House, ‘Tipu fighting the tiger’ will be illuminated near the Tippu Circle and conserving of wild animals near Fountain circle, he said.

They have also plans of instituting three awards for the best illumination and this will be presented by the chief minister on the last day of Dasara, said Bore Gowda.