Mysuru Airport Expansion - New Impediments by R. Chandra Prakash

Mysuru Airport has been in the news for quite some time, but most of the time for only wrong reasons!  However, recently there was one piece of good news. Finally the state government has agreed to release funds for the acquisition of necessary additional land to facilitate runway expansion so that bigger planes can operate from Mysuru Airport. This would facilitate Mysuru getting  air connectivity to other important cities in the country. This would further accelerate the development of tourism and IT & BT industries around Mysuru.

However, at a time when Mysoreans were  looking forward to such a happy scenario, there  are new impediments which threaten the development of Mysuru Airport. It looks as if this project is jinxed!

An NOC from AAI

As per latest Notification issued by the  Airport Authority of India [AAI] all new high rises within 56km radius of Mysuru Airport must get a No Objection Certificate [NOC] from AAI. It has released a color-coded zoning map for Mysuru airport, categorizing areas into Green, Pink, Yellow and Red Zones. These zones specify height limits for structures and natural obstructions that could endanger aircraft operations.

The zoning map indicates clear guidelines for safe urban development around the airport. Red Zone indicating the most-restricted area near the runway, surrounded by Yellow, Pink and Green Zones extending outwards. The local authorities, such as Mysore City Corporation, Mysore Development Authority; Nanjangud Town, and parts of Chamarajnagar and Mandya Districts located within 56km radius, have been informed to approve construction plans within their respective areas, only after the applicants receive an NOC from AAI. Telecommunications towers, already located  and to be located in future within the said 56km radius areas also required to be governed by this NOC requirements.

Master Pan and the Implications of NOC

It is to be noted that the plans for expansion and development of Mysuru Airport have been in the public domain for more than two decades. During this very period Mysore-Nanjangud Master Plan-2031 had been in the public discussions, and was finally approved by the concerned authorities in 2014-15. As per this Master Plan the expanded  urbanization area was to include lands between erstwhile Mysuru city limits and Nanjangud town limits. The Mysuru Airport, interestingly, is located at Mandakalli village, which happens to be, more or less, at the epicenter of  this newly carved and expanded urbanized area!

Due to the overall effect of the Master Plan the private agricultural lands between these two areas have quickly converted into commercial and industrial plots. Even the KIADB has established several new industrial estates there. The land values have shot up geometrically. The urban area of Mysuru city has now gone beyond Mandakalli village and many residential layouts and buildings have sprung up here. Many such constructions are not very far away from the present airport boundary. Mysuru City Corporation has established one new Solid Waste Management unit on the land not very far away from the airport.

Mysuru is looking forward to all-round faster economic development, particularly after new Expressway between Mysuru and Bangalore which has reduced the distance between the two cities to just 90 minutes. This strong economic growth of Mysuru is also stimulated  by the increased traffic congestions and cost of living in Bangaluru.   

Will Devanahalli Movement Repeat?

Now it looks as if the  Notification for getting a NOC from AAI, particularly for the areas which could come under the Red Zone, might have come too late! What will happen to high-rises already existing in the Red Zone? What will be the effect on the high land values in these Zones, as the 56km radius area also  includes lands located in Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts? Since the NOC covers  vast areas it will certainly generate very strong opposition from the land owners, developers and other interested parties. It is strongly rumored that much of these lands are under the ownership and control of politicians. Therefore,  a land owners movement could be a very effective tool to corner the government to stall airport expansion projects.  

Just a couple of days ago the Chief Minister agreed to the agitating Devanahalli farmers’ demand and withdrew the proposal to acquire 4000 acres land for establishing an Aviation Museum. Therefore, we will have to keep our fingers crossed and wait.

But there is one more news which does not augur well for the development of Mysuru Airport!

Location of Second Bangalore Airport

The Kempegowda Internation Airport [KIA] at Devanahalli, Bangaluru is reaching its optimal capacity very soon. Therefore, a  second airport for Bangaluru has become necessary. MB Patil, Karnataka Industries and Infrastructure Development Minister, has proposed to the Airports Authority of India [AAI] three locations. Two sites are along Kanakapura Road- near Kaggalipura in Bangaluru Urban District and Harohalli in Bangaluru South [Ramanagara], and the third one is at Chikkasolur in Bangaluru Rural District along the Nelamangala-Kunigal road.

However, aviation expert Devesh Agarwal considers all the three sites not suitable. On the contrary, he has suggested that the new airport be located between Bangaluru and Mysuru. He has opined that “Besides serving several tier-2 cities in the south and southwest of Bangaluru, this new airport will also aid various industries in the region. The Bangaluru-Mysuru Expressway is an added advantage.”

It is noteworthy to recall my articles Demand for International Airport for Mysuru: Some Basic Issues. [Star of Mysore, 19th August 2020] and Has Mysuru Gone Bangaluru Way-3 –KIA Location: A Myopic Decision [Star of Mysore, 29th Dec, 2021] which had in detail elaborated on this issue and had pondered as to how instead of at Devanahalli, a location between Bangaluru and Mysuru would have been an ideal one.

Impact on Mysuru Airport Expansion

If the second airport were to be located between Bangaluru and Mysuru, then the expansion and development of Mysuru Airport will become redundant as second Bangaloru Airport, also an International Airport, will be only about 40-50 km away from Mysuru and because of the new Express Way it would be reachable within one hour.

Unfortunately, Mysuru’s airport seems to be cursed. However, being one of the oldest in the country, it may only remain as a heritage airport!

Trust-Deficit, Bane of Modern Medical System by R. Chandra Prakash

Dr. B. M. Hegde, former Vice Chancellor of Manipal University, had once said “Faith in a Doctor Cures the Patient Fast”. A lot of research is being carried out in fathoming the mysteries of Mind in determining the body responses in a given situation. Placebo treatment, treatment of so called psycho-somatic problems like hypochondria, and providing emotional support to the terminally sick are some of the examples.

But this ‘Faith in a Doctor’, which in other words the ‘Trust in the Doctor’ so central to medical care, is in deficit these days.

Commercialization of Health Care

Medical system in the developed countries have undergone fundamental transformations. Medical research has revolutionized each and every medical field. United States of America has been leading the world in medical research, be it drugs,  or technological support or even medical education.  United States  being a predominantly a private sector oriented economy, health care has remained in the private domain. It could also be the reason for great strides in every medical field. Situation is not much different in Canada and many European countries which are  moving away from the state sponsored health care system. Consequently, Medical Insurance plays critical role in the health care industry of these countries. Obviously, health care  is nowadays commercialized profession.

Under these circumstances how far medical practitioners are capable of fulfilling their Hippocratic Oath, [
A pledge to prescribe only beneficial treatments, according to his abilities and judgment; to refrain from causing harm or hurt; and to live an exemplary personal and professional life], is only a matter of conjecture.

Tip of the Ice-Berg

Getting vaccinated is a routine practice in most of the developed countries. People get routinely vaccinated as a preventive measure against several seasonal illnesses. Health care system world over carries out vaccination against life-crippling diseases like Polio, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, etc. But the cause for the  trucker’s devastating strike in Canada a couple of years ago, which  had led  to imposing of Emergency in the state of Ottawa, was Corona virus Vaccines. The truckers were asking two questions: 1: ‘How do we know Corona virus vaccines are safe?’ 2: Are there no other better treatments?’ Even in the United States of America citizens in millions had refused to get vaccinated, or even wear masks. There were similar protests even in few European countries.

Truckers’ revolt was only  a tip of a huge trust-deficit in the entire health care industry. And this trust-deficit is not confined to  corona virus vaccines alone, but is spread across the entire spectrum of western medical system. The situation is no  different in India.

Indian Scenario

India has been witness to a gradual dismantling of government’s  free health care  support to the citizens. This has lead to systematic increased privatization of medical services. Some of the government schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana, are  trying  to enable the poor and the lower middle class  to access the private medical care.

However, one cannot shy away from the fact that the government’s health care system is crumbling due to bureaucracy and all round deterioration of moral values. At the same time the commercial health care system is equally guilty of practicing ‘pure profit’ orientation over ‘service’. Therefore, the plight of the sick is proverbial ‘between the stools’.

Cost of  Medical Education

As per the Economic Survey 2019-20 there is a shortage of doctors in the country and the doctor-population ratio is 1:1456 against the WHO recommendation of 1:1000. No surprise that there is great demand for medical education. But due  to limited seats and very high cut off merit bench marks in government run institutions, and high costs of privately run medical educational institutions,  today more than 20,000 Indian students are found to be in war torn Ukraine pursuing medial education.

Now the doctors have to acquire higher degrees to become very minutely specialized. Consequently, there are multiple specialists for a single body part. There are Consultants, Interventionists and  a Surgeon specialized in individual body parts. Each one of them undergoes a long period of specialized education and training. The socio-economic costs of such long and specialized medical education and  training for a developing economy like India are very high. By default they inject unethical medical practices.

Practices being “Unethical”

Medical students are taught Generic names of medicines, however as doctors it is the brand names that are prescribed. Even when government supplies Janaushadhi generic medicines which it claims to be of equal quality standards and  cost as low as 10% to only 50% of the prices of their branded counterparts, (which are boons to patients with life-style diseases such as diabetes and hypertension), doctors prefer to prescribe branded medicines. How far this practice is within their Hippocratic Oath is anybody’s guess.

Very recently, Supreme Court ruled that “medical practitioners were forbidden from accepting “gifts” and  “freebies”. It was  disallowing  Rs.4.72 crore  of a  pharma company incurred towards gifting freebies such as hospitality, conference fees, gold coins, LCD TVs’, fridges, laptops etc to medical practitioners  “for creating awareness about the health supplement manufactured by it” claimed as an expenditure item in the business account while calculating the tax on profits. Public knowledge of such nefarious practices sabotage the trust of the patients in the entire medical profession.

Use of modern diagnostic tools and methods are common practices. But when such investigations become suspect due to underhand dealings between the practitioner and the diagnostic labs, the faith in the medical profession gets corroded. But it is common knowledge that some labs do give cut backs, and sometimes their results might even be tilted against the patients.

The Bench Marks on many diagnostic norms are themselves suspect these days. The ‘healthy levels’ of Blood Pleasure, Blood Sugar, or even Cholesterol are nowadays suspected to be manipulated to favor the pharma companies.  They do endanger the trust in the health care system.

Seeking “Second Opinion” has become a common practice among the patients and their caretakers. This is nothing but expression of lack of faith in the first diagnosis.

Expiry dates on the drugs is yet another area of suspicion. There is an awakening that drugs do not lose their potency, but shorter expiry dates help in keeping the manufacturing process, and consequently the  profits, rolling.

In nutshell, trust-deficit sabotages the delicate link between the patient and the medicine. When faith is lost, even the best medicine might not become effective. One cannot but fully agree with Dr.B.M Hedge that Mind is as important, if not more, as Medicine.

Though one should hasten to add that there are doctors who are wedded to their Hippocratic Oath and are rendering yeomen services to the society. I have  several decades long personal relationships with stalwarts in the medical profession, and I have no hesitation in stating that  Mysuru is  lucky in having a living  tradition of such illustrious medical practitioners who have been practicing their profession in a manner which enhances the Trust of patients.  

The Land of Hari and Har-2 – Devbhumi Dwaraka by R. Chandra Prakash

Dwarkadhish Temple 

Dwarkadish Temple is considered to be the main temple among the  sacred Char Dham temples. However, it is essential to know that  the present temple structure at Dwaraka is said to be dated to 16th century.  The original structure was said to have been destroyed by Mahmud Begada in 1473. However, the antiquity of this temple dates back to several millennia. The present temple is located at an elevation of 12.9 meters above mean sea-level and it faces west. The main shrine of five storied temple is supported by 72 pillars.

The temple is dedicated Lord Krishna, who is reckoned as the King of Dwarka. Hence it is called Dwarkadish Temple – Temple of King of Dwarka. This temple  is also called Jagat Temple- the Universal Temple, or the Temple of the World. It is believed to have been established by Lord Krishna’s grandson Vajranabh. 

According to a  legend  this temple was built on the very site of Krishna’s palace, which was reclaimed from the sea by his divine power. Temple is also known as Nija Mandir, or Original Temple. It is said to be the oldest structure in Dwarka. 

Marine Archeology’s Findings

Archeological findings suggest that the original temple was built, at the earliest, in 200 BCE. That the past five decades of underwater excavations in the Arabian sea adjoining the Gomti estuary have also disclosed submerged archeological monuments which give credence to such claims. 

Its Home Page on Dwaraka Explorations has this to state: 

“During 1983-1992 underwater archaeological explorations have been carried out almost every year in Dwarka waters. The successive underwater investigations off Dwarka in about 4 to 12 m water depth have revealed the presence of a number of submerged stone building blocks such as remains of wall, pillar and bastion and also stone anchors of various types like three-holed, prismatic and triangular were noteced in various places. SDDE and SCUBA systems were used for the underwater exploration along with ‘Aquazepp’ the underwater scooter. The survey boats were chartered and were equipped with underwater camera, underwater TV system and airlift equipments for exploration and excavation.”

About the antiquity of the Dwaraka the magazine states as follow:

“Dwarka on the west coast of India, is a well known ancient port, now believed to have been submerged. The excavations carried out during 1979 in the Dwarkadhish Temple Complex revealed three temple remains. In all, eight settlements can be distinguished at Dwarka. The first settlement made in the 15th century B.C. was submerged or washed away and so also the second one made in the 10th century B.C. After a long gap the third settlement was made in the 1st century B.C./A.D. as suggested by the Red Polished Ware and copper coins known as Karshapanas. It is during this phase that Temple I, was built. The lime-plastered surface of its stone masonry still retaining a few lines of red ochre painting suggests that the plinth was open to view above the then working level. After the first temple was destroyed the second temple came to be built on the ruins of the first. When the second temple was also destroyed, the third temple was built in the 9th century. It was perhaps in the 12th century a storm-wave blew away the roof leaving only the walls and plinth. The fourth temple came into existence soon after. The present temple of Dwarkadhish is the fifth in the series. Temples I to V represent respectively settlements III to VII and the modern town is the eighth settlement at Dwarka. It is this sequence finding of which led to present explorations at Dwarka.”

 

Religious Importance

Dwarkadhish Temple is 98th of the 108 Divya Desams, or holy abodes of Vishnu, which are glorified by Alwars, the 12th Century Tamil poet-saints. The  Divya Desam is praised by four Alwars: Nammalwar, Thirumangal Alwar, Thrumalisai Alwar and Periyalwar. This temple is also mentioned in the works of other Hindu saints and scholars, such as Adi Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhyacharya and Narsinh Mehta. There is a record stating that Adi Shankara had visited this temple in 8th Century.

The Deity

The Deity of Dwarakadish Temple is made of black stone and decorated in its typical golden costumes and head gear. One finds this in Braj Bhoomi as well. As per a legend ‘the main idol housed within the temple possesses a magnetic charge, drawing metal objects to it. This captivating phenomenon has captured both scientists and devotees, sparking intrigue and speculation’. But we could hardly enjoy any such experience due to our split-second darshan.

Meera Bai, a 16th century poet and devotee of Lord Krishna, is said to have merged with this idol at this temple. It is said that after this she was never seen again.  Meera Bai composed many songs and poems in praise of Lord Krishna.

Flag Hoisting

The temple has a beautifully crafted 43 meter high spire on which a 52 yards cloth flag remains always hoisted. Each day flag is changed six times in a very ritualistic ceremony. Due to its height high breeze hoisting flag is very risky and courageous act. This flag hoisting ceremony is much awaited by the pilgrims, who wait in hoards  for a long time for this to take place. People can  pay and get this flag hoisted as a reverence to the Lord.

 In Jagannath Puri, one more temple of Lord Krishna, similar daily flag hoisting ceremony takes place, with similar admirations from the pilgrims. 

Temple Entry

The temple is totally surrounded by private properties, excepting the steps and the parikrama. There is a separate queue for the pilgrims who are on their own, that is without the guidance of the Priests or  Pandas. There is a society formed by the Priests through which these Priests operate the visits. Our team went through one such Priest. We were taken through a side entrance, (but leading to the same steps which were being followed by queue of the independent pilgrims!). As our Priest seemed to have some influence in the Society, we were taken by-passing the prevalent queue. 

Entry into the main garbha-gruha was an exercise by itself due to the crowd at the narrow entry point. Finally when we reached the Lord’s Darshan we were pulled out by the policeman there from the front and pushed-out by the surging crown behind!! Not a very good experience, but since it is same experience at all the temples, we consoled ourselves that at least we have had a glimpse of the Lord!

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Next - The Land of Hari and Har-3  Bet Dwarka

The Land of Hari and Har - A visit to a corner of our sacred geography

Sanatana Dharma’s several thousand years history has metamorphosed  this land of Bharat into a Sacred Geography. The colonial onslaughts of 1500 plus years were unable to stop this metamorphic transformation. If anything, it only redoubled the Sanatani’s determination to protect and replicate his faith in his Gods in every nook and cranny of this beautiful land.

Hindus are bound by their faith in such intricate ways that southerners consider it their bounden duty to visit at least once Kashi located in the north-west of the country.  And the northerners are bound by their commitment to visit at least once in their life time Rameswaram, in the land’s southern tip.  Then, there are Char Dhams, Barah [twelve] Dhams spread over north, south, east and west. And there are localized deities attracting thousands of faithful all-round the year in some corner or the other. Regions don’t matter, it is the religious faith that  drives Hindus to traverse across this Sacred Land.

Between Hari and Har

It would not be wrong to say that  Hinduism is built around Hari (Lord Krishna) and Har (Lord Shiva). They are followed in their different forms and they are depicted in myriad manifestations in local lore. However, there are some specific areas of this Sacred Geography which have high pan-Indian significance. Two such prominent sacred lands, among others are: Dwaraka and Somanath. Interestingly, they are  located not far away from each other in the  Saurastra Region of Gujarat State.

Our long standing urge to visit Dwaraka and Somnath was fulfilled during our very recent nine day long visit.

Saurastra Region

Locally it is said that today’s “Sau Rastra” refers to a nomenclature in ancient times for  the existence of hundreds of small kingdoms in this region. This area is also known as Kathiawar [Kathiawad], which has its own distinct cuisine, fauna, flora and cultural moorings.

Devbhumi Dwaraka

Dwaraka city is located on the estuary of river Gomti on Arabian Sea coast, at the  tip of Gujarat’s Peninsula. In Sanskrit Dwaraka it means “gateway to Heaven”, where ‘Dwar’ means gate, and ‘ka’ refers to ‘Brahma’. The city also has been called ‘Mokshapuri’, ‘Dwaramati’ and ‘Dwarakavati’.

Dwaraka is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. Legend has it that Lord Krishna got this ‘golden city’ built by Vishwakarma, and settled here after he defeated and killed his uncle Kansa at Mathura. It is intriguing as to how several millennia ago the long geographical distances between Mathura and Dwaraka could be fathomed and that too in such a short period of about 125 years!!

In keeping with its religious importance of Dwaraka,  in the year 2013 the government of Gujarat carved out a new small district and named it as “Devbhumi Dwaraka”. It is consists of only four talukas, and is carved out of Jamnagar district.

There are four important places in Devbhumi Dwaraka directly related to Lord Krishna. First is the Dwaraka City itself. Second is the Bet Dwaraka or Shankhodhar. It is an inhabited island at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch, situated 2 km off the coast of the town of Okha, and 25 km north of the city of Dwarka. Northeast to southwest, the island measures 8 km long and averaging 2 km wide.

Third is Rukmini Temple, two kilometer away from the Dwarka  which commemorates Lord Krishna’s beloved wife Rukmini. Lastly, Bhala Ka Theerth Temple, which commemorates the place where Lord Krishna’s soul is said to have departed from his body. It is located in Veraval, about 4 kilometer from Somanath Temple. Those who visit Dwaraka normally visit all these places of faith in Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna – A Multidimensional God

Hinduism is replete with Gods and God men. And each one of them is represented to have distinctive powers and  personalities. However, among all Hindu Gods, Lord Krishna has a unique personae. He is one of the most widely  worshiped Hindu Gods. He is considered to be eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and worshiped as Supreme God on his  own right.

His extraordinary  wisdom has been narrated in the form of Srimad Bhagwat Gita [Geeta]. His overarching  super-human, Universal Power is demonstrated in his Virat-Roopa or also called Vishwa Roopa. Lord Krishna’s life-story is very proximate to humans. And interestingly, there is definite records of his birth, sojourn and  death, unlike stories of other Hindu Gods, which remain mostly mythical in their narratives.

Some Interesting Features

1. Lord Krishna has a total of 108 names. He is, Baanke Bihari, Gopala, Dwarkadish, Shyam, Makhan Chor and so on. He is also portrayed as a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero.

2. The peacock feather worn by Lord Krishna on his head is the symbol of purity. It represents his pure love for Radha and the eternal bond of Radha Krishna

3. Krishna means black or dark. It also stands for ‘all attractive’. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Krishna is depicted in blue skin to represent the aura of calmness, purity, strength, immeasurable. It is also assumed that Lord Krishna’s skin turned blue when he was poisoned by a female demon through her breast milk when he was a baby.

4.  According to the Surya Siddhanta and other sources, Lord Krishna's birth and subsequent actions are believed to have taken place around 3228 BCE, with some suggesting a range from 3102 BCE to 3067 BCE. And he lived for 125 years.

5.  He was born in  present day Mathura  and this is the reason, the town grandly celebrates his birthday. Situated at the heart of Braj or Brij-bhoomi, Mathura is mostly called as Shri Krishna Janma-Bhoomi.

6. And of course, he has now acquired international acceptance and love through International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which was launched in 1966 from New York, U.S.A.

Supreme Court Decision on KSRTC - Need to Reconsider Banni Mantap Terminal by R. Chandra Prakash

On Thursday the 6^th February 2025, Honorable Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B Varale has held that “Section 3 of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Act, 2003, which repeals the (Karnataka Contract Carriages (Acquisition) Act, 1976) [KCCA Act 1976],   is  constitutional. The court said the State Legislature has rightly exercised its power to repeal the Act”.

The bench concurred with  the Karnataka High Court's division bench decision that the repeal Act is rooted in the practical realities of modern transport policy. The court felt contemporary challenges, such as increasing demand for public transport services, congestion in urban areas, and the need for efficient service delivery, necessitated a more flexible regulatory regime. With this the court dismissed an appeal filed by the KSRTC against the March 28, 2011 judgment by the High Court.

This  decision has huge ramifications for the future functioning of the KSRTC and its monopoly over the bus transport system in the state. It will also lead to the transformation of the entire bus public transport system in the state.

A Product of Emergency

The Karnataka Contract Carriages (Acquisition) Act 1976 was passed during the Emergency [1975-77] in the country. It had  liquidated the private bus transport services and had provided a monopoly platform for the KSRTC.  The consequences of this Act were grave. Hundreds of private operators confronted overnight takeover of their transport businesses, without even adequate compensations and proper procedures.

Over a period of fifty years, it created a  gargantuan state owned KSRTC. Between 1976 and 2003 the KSRTC underwent several re-organisations in its structure to be efficient  and profitable. But every effort has failed.

An Attempt to Undo KCCA Act 1976

Country’s economic policy underwent fundamental change in 1991 when the process of liberalization and private sector participation replaced Nehuruvian socialist economic policy. Since then the private sector started to participate in every field of economy, including bus transportation. However, KSRTC monopoly did not allow private sector participation in the state on a wide scale. Only Contract Carriages were allowed  with very limited participation. Government was incurring huge financial losses because of such public sector dominance in bus transport.

It is under the above background that the government had  brought in the  Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Act, 2003, with an intention to repeal the Karnataka Contract Carriages (Acquisition)Act,1976.

The KSRTC and others went on appeal against this Act 2003. The judgment of the High Court did not settle the matter and it went up to the Supreme Court, which  has given its  judgment.

Future Repercussions

There will be expansion of bus transport services through extensive private participation. Consequently, entire logistics of transport network services will undergo phenomenal transformation. The public will certainly get an alternative to monopolistic KSRTC. Competition between KSRTC and Private Service Providers will ensure better services to the user.  Profit motive driven private service providers will optimize their return on investment through good management of their resources. Greater employment opportunities for skilled workers and higher revenues for the government will be other benefits.

This judgment will be a timely relief to the present government, which  is facing a huge financial crunch. Now the government can earn revenues by providing permits to the private bus operators to operate bus routes. The ever loss incurring KSRTC will no more be breathing down the financial neck of the government

Loss of Monopoly

KSRTC will lose its monopoly on bus transport services. And therefore, it will have to reconsider its current expansion plans. Shrinking of its services will necessitate it to better utilize its financial resources. Capital investments into infrastructure and  non-productive  areas will also have to be reassessed.

New Terminal Needs Reconsideration

Star of Mysore has published  several articles and letters to the editor by this author on the New Terminal proposal. Many others too have provided 360 degree views on this topic. Hence, this write up only focuses on the repercussions of the Supreme Court decision on the future of KSRTC and also the proposal under consideration.

Under the changed scenario, KSRTC has to reconsider its plan to invest Rs.120 crore into the proposed new terminal at Banni Mantap. It will have to redraw its demand projections in the short term and long term. Because, now a parallel system of bus transportation under the private sector will create its own infrastructure in keeping with its vision. And  the KSRTC will no longer be the sole service provider.

A wrong decision in this regard will cause immense damage to the city’s heritage and culture. It might be appropriate here to recall how KSRTC has in the past built Terminals at Sathagalli as also at Kuvempu Nagar,  which have remained scarcely used for decades. The remodeling of City Bus Terminal at K.R.Cirlce and the Sub-Urban Terminal on  Bangaluru – Nilgiri Road was very unscientific and have scarred the city with avoidable traffic congestions and inconveniences to the public.

Let the proposed new terminal at Banni Mantap not add to such an infamous list.

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Banni Mantap New Bus Terminal - KSRTC’s Yet Another Ostrich-like Policy by R. Chandra Prakash

A proposal for  a new Bus Terminal at Banni Mantap has been announced by the KSRTC. As per its public statement a DPR has been sent to government for approval. Even though the  details of DPR is not made public, from the available information one can foresee a disaster in waiting. The proposed Terminal is to be located on 14 acres of land carved out of the 65 acres of KSRTC Depot at Banni Mantap. 

The Terminal will be facing Highway Circle Road, that is Nelson Mandela Road, also popularly called Banni Mantap road. On its eastern side it will be facing heritage Banni Mantap with its stadium. These two areas will be dissected by existing 12 meter road linking Nelson Mandela road with Shivaraatreeshwar Nagar.  The proposal includes a construction of 15 meter wide road going around on its western and northern side  linking  Nelson Mandela Road with pre-existing 12 meter road on its eastern side.

Anticipated Benefits

The KSRTC press release states that “currently, the rural bus stand, which spreads over four acres of land, is congested. The division is finding it difficult to operate all its fleet of 2,600 buses on different routes from this bus stand.” It is very simple justification therefore, that a shift from present four acres to 14 acres will facilitate a very convenient and comfortable area for the KSRTC to operate all its fleet of buses from the proposed new Terminal at the Banni Mantap. 

However, it overlooks many vital facts. 

Important Residential & Educational Area

KSRTC’s  Divisional Central Offices and Depots are located in MCC Ward Number 8 which has a small spread of only 1.90 Km area. This Ward has a highly priced and thickly populated residential neighborhood. It is also surrounded by institutions of higher education such as St. Philomina’s College, government college, JSS Mahavidyalay Medical Education Complex,  schools, a Polytechnic, to mention only a few. This ward is commercially vibrant. It also has a very active industrial area on its western side adjoining HUDCO lay out. 

Narrow, Congested Roads

The proposed Terminal has its main facing on Nelson Mandela Road. It is a 25 meter road and an important arterial road connecting eastern and western side of the city. Both the sides of this main road has thickly populated residential localities, commercial complexes, as also industrial units. Consequently, the current density of traffic on this road is already very high. So much so, even now the entry and exit of KSRTC buses from and to the Depots themselves are facing immense traffic bottlenecks. This is also an accident prone area. 

Further, the road in between proposed bus terminal and the Banni Mantap is only 12m wide. Even if the authorities provide more space between this road and the terminal within its area, the outside width of the road itself cannot be extended. 

Disaster in Waiting

As per the press release the currently a fleet of only 2,600 buses are operating from the Nilgiri-Bangaluru Raod bus terminal. This itself is going to be a very huge number in terms of additional traffic to be generated by the new bus terminal. Even if the KSRTC tries to spread the entry and exit on the three roads around it, heavy duty bus traffic is surely going to play havoc in already heavy traffic area.

There is no scope for any further expansion of roads! It does not need an expert to guess what will be the situation in future.

Report of D.C.T. & T Plan

In 2010 A Development of Comprehensive Traffic & Transport Plan for Mysuru was submitted. While justifying the need for the Outer Ring Road the Report noted the situation on Banni Mantap road as follows:

The problem was worse especially near Old RMC and Banni Mantap leading to Bangalore Road, and pollution caused by automobiles in the city  centre was perceived to be higher than in other areas of Mysore. This was corroborated by the findings of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, which pointed out that dust content in the air in the centre was abnormally high.  Besides the environmental factor, the Outer Ring Road was also perceived as necessary to improve the intra-city transportation system.

That was 2010, but since then the traffic situation on the road mentioned has multiplied many times and might have over taken the relief derived from the Outer Ring Road [ORR]!. Rather, as the Outer Ring Road is located not far behind the KSRTC Depot, total pollution in the area mentioned in the above Report might itself have multiplied due to heavy traffic on ORR! 

Let us consider the findings of another Report.me2010

Temporal Study Report

A Temporal Study Report [Vol-1 and Vol-2] was submitted to KSRTC in 2015 by Kimley Horn Consulting and Engineering, New Delhi. The report was about Monitoring and Evaluation of Deployment of ITS at KSRTC. Its survey stated that the density of traffic at the Fountain Circle and the Columbia Asia Circle [ presently Manipal Hospital Circle] was very high. Between 9.00 A.M and 9.00 P.M the traffic was between 2,200 and 2,800 vehicles at the Fountain Circle, and between 1,500 and 1,800 at the  Columbia [Manipal] Circle. And these figures are nine years old! 

Presently  the traffic at the Manipal circle has increased geometrically due to new access controlled High Way between Mysuru and Bangaluru. Substantial part of this traffic goes via Fountain Circle and there is natural telescopic effect at this junction. So much so the traffic police has been struggling with providing modified traffic movement and control at Manipal Circle, practically every month. Now a flyover is in the pipeline. 

As most of the buses from and to the new terminal  will have to pass through these two circles, obviously they are going to be severely congested. Therefore, the overall impact of the proposed new bus terminal will not only add to heavy traffic but also heavier pollution in Banni Mantap area. 

Endangering the Heritage

The KSRTC Depot, where the new Bus Terminal is proposed, has a important heritage place,  the Banni Mantap on its eastern side. The entire area is named after it. It plays very important role in the ‘world famous Mysuru Dasara’. Even before the new terminal comes into operation, there are suggestion that the stadium located in the Banni Mantap compound could be used as an adjoining parking place to support the functioning of new terminal!! It looks as if KSRTC has a never ending confrontation with the royalty and the heritage of Mysuru!

Let us briefly probe into its history. 

1976-78 Confrontation 

By1976-77 the demand for space at the K.R.Circle Bus Terminal had become very acute. A few years ago  K.S.R.T.C had extended its area on the Sayyaji Rao road, up to Bamhapuri Palace Gate.  Now it  was contemplating to expand its area of operations  beyond Bamhapuri Palace Gate on Sayyaji Rao road.  That lead to agitation from the occupants of the Palace as also the city’s public, as such an act would diminish the heritage value of the palace itself. The country was going through Emergency. Late Sri. D.Jayadevaraja Urs, [MLC,1972-28], was  a very powerful political leader of the time, having close connections both with the Palace  and the Chief Minister, late Sri.D.Devaraj Urs [1970-77, 78-80]. He very strongly objected to any such proposal and directed the KSRTC to find an alternative place for expansion of bus terminal.  

Hunt for a New Location

Sri. Salagar, a very soft spoken gentleman and a committed worker, was the Divisional Controller of KSRTC Mysore Division. Having  completed the Urban Transport of Mangalore in 1975 for the Institute of Development Studies, University of Mysore, I was researching further on the working of KSRTC and was in constant touch with Sri.Salagar. Both of us started to hunt for a suitable place and among other areas People’s Park, abandoned K.R.Mills, and even the Banni Mantap Bus Depot was considered. But all these locations were dispensed with,  for one reason or the other. 

Final Choice 

It was then that both of us agreed on an abandoned  dilapidated government school building with adequate open space on Nilgiri-Bangalore road. A government horticultural farm was located adjoining this school on  Irwin Road. It was an  added attraction for future expansions. The new Sub-urban Bus Stand [SBST] was established there. To begin with only the Non-Stop bus services were operated from here. But in the due course of time more operations of  rural and inter-city buses  were shifted to this SBST,  and K.R.Circle bus station became a City Bus Terminal. 

This is how any further damage to heritage palace premises was avoided then. However, the proposal for new Bus Terminal revives the threat to the Mysuru’s  another heritage place, now it is at  Banni Mantap.

An Ideal Location

It will be wise to locate the proposed new Bus Terminal beyond the ORR on Bangaluru-Mysuru High Way. The ideal location could be some- where around or near Naganahalli, where the Railways are also planning to establish a intermittent station to reduce the load on city railway station. 

To facilitate easy mobility of the passengers, it would be advisable to locate the Bus Terminal on either-side of the High Way with over-ground or under-ground connectivity. This will facilitate ease on both the onward vehicular traffic and the passenger mobility. 

Present ORR can facilitate the outstation buses to avoid entering city boundaries, and a faster bus movement. When the fly-over at Manipal Hospital junction comes up, their movement will further be smoother. 

Mere availability of land at Banni Mantap KSRTC Depot should not be the deciding factor. Future consequences should be gauged keeping in mind the growth of the city and the resultant traffic density. 

KSRTC should come out of its ostrich-like policy making. 

Nehru Era And Bharat’s Missed Opportunities by R.Chandra Prakash

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first prime minister of free India. His tenure continued unabated between 1950 and 1964, for nearly fourteen years with successful massive victories in the elections. During his entire tenure Nehru enjoyed unprecedented popularity among the people.  Several felicitous events in Nehru’s lifetime had helped in building up his political image and power.

Gandhi’s open unfair preference to Nehru  over more meritorious Congressmen, which  has already been detailed, was substantially responsible for generating such an extraordinary public sentiments. During the independence movement this had also given Nehru a commanding influence of several decades on  the Indian National Congress [INC]. 

Early demise of many stalwart colleagues contemporaries like Rajendra Prasad, Vallabhai Patel,  Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Shymaprasad Mukherji and many others, helped Nehru to exercise more or less a dictatorial powers during his entire tenure. 

Development Policy – Failed Modernization

Nehru’s economic development policy was to create a modern welfare state with Socialism and Secularism as its main planks. For this the  focus was to be on poverty, unemployment, industrialization, agricultural growth and infrastructural development. All these were to be achieved through centralized planning. Though modeled on Soviet state planning mechanism, the political system to control economic functioning  was parliamentary democracy. Nehru evolved Non-alignment as a foreign policy for an independent India. This was to get developmental support from countries with different ideologies.

First Five Year Plan focused on agricultural development. Whereas the second Five Year Plan on Industrial development. The Third Five Year Plan was a balanced economic plan covering not only agriculture and industry but also tertiary sectors.

During the year 1956 several policy decisions with far reaching changes in Education, Industrial, Banking, Mining, Transport, Insurance and Trading were carried out. And a series of nationalization of existing private enterprises were carried out in many of these sectors, and several new Public sector units were established in important technologies to further these business activities. 

Nehru’s drive for economic development and modernization through the state apparatus which was molded during the colonial period could not meet objectives and targets. Lack of trust in the private economic initiative, which was the  innate strength of Bharat, only resulted in enlarged dreams, enhanced demands and all-round shortages. Consequently, the collapsing administrative and political structures generated all-round corruption and  distortions.

Further, the State Reorganization on the linguistic bases changed the socio-political geography of the  post independence India. How far this has been beneficial to Bharat is a matter of debate. Because, at one end of this spectrum if the country’s cultural moorings seem to  have been strengthened, at the other end it cannot be ignored that it has also created sharp regional-linguistic tensions and divisions.  Best examples  are: division of Punjab and Haryana; the way Andhra Pradesh was created, and the way it got further divided into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, even though Telagu is the language of both the states!  

Idealism sans Pragmatism

Nehru’s idealistic penchant for secularism lead to many constitutional amendments and policy pronouncements during this era. Emphasis on secularism ignored the fact that country was divided on communal grounds and Pakistan was created for those who wanted an Islamic state. A genocide of gigantic proportion, might not be lesser than Nazi massacre of the Jews, had taken place. Under these highly tragic circumstances, a newly minted independent Bharat, needed a pragmatist, and not an idealist. 

Consequently, during the post-independence the entire emphasis has been on one-sided secular policies endangering the Bharat’s heritage and innate cultural ethos. Kashmiri Pandits’ exodus from Kashmir during 1998 stands testimony to such unrealistic national policies. 

A glimpse of economic disaster during the Nehruvian economics has already been provided. But it is the political bankruptcy etched deeply into the psychology of a nascent nation which has continued to cause irreparable damage to Bharat.  

Because,  Nehruvian Era did not end with the demise of Nehru.

Nehruvian Era - Instituted Political Dynasty 

Nehru did not facilitate other leaders in Congress to take over after him. With the demise of all his seniors and equals, Congress gradually became his fiefdom. Finally, Nehru’s successor was none other than his daughter Indira Gandhi. She was fully trained under Nehru and she only furthered Nehruvian Era. With graver political consequences to the nation. Only marginal difference was that she carried a surname of ‘Gandhi’.

Interestingly, her husband’s name was Feroze Jehangir Ghandhy. However, having been inspired by Mahatma Gandhi,  Feroze had changed the spelling of his surname from Ghandy to Gandhi]. Such innocuous act has played  diabolic political consequences in the Indian politics. It provided Indira Gandhi a powerful political hallow of both Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, two stalwarts of country’s independence movement.

Further, it helped in perpetuating family’s stronghold over the Indian National Congress. On the hindsight  it is clear that Congress became a weaker political party with every succeeding Nehru-Gandhi heir gaining control over it. During her own regime, INC was divided multiple times like Congress(O) and Congress (R), later on as Congress(I) and so on. With weakened Congress Nehru-Gandhi domination in country’s politics grew stronger.

Thus, political nepotism began with Indira Gandhi coming to power after Nehru. And due to her assassination, the emotionally weakened political atmosphere launched her son Rajeev Gandhi on to the Prime Minister’s post. It must be noted that he was not into active politics. After Rajeev’s unfortunate assassination his widow Antoio maino, of foreign origin,  [later on renames as Sonia Gandhi] took charge of the Congress Party, and by 2004 she was a very dominant controlling figure of the party. 

Sonia Gandhi practically would have taken charge as the Prime Minister in 2004, but for the mysterious reasons  she preferred not to and nominated Dr.Manmohan Singh instead. Interestingly, soon it became an open secret that it was Sonia Gandhi who  was functioning as  the de-facto Prime Minister,  whereas Dr.Manmohan Singh was only a  de-jure Prime Minister! [The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh by Sanjay Baru (2014). Author was his Media Advisor between 2004-2008].

Ever since 2004 fourth generation Nehru-Gandhi scion, Rahul Gandhi has been seen taking very active part in the country’s politics. In 2014   it was rumored that he would be anointed with the family’s fiefdom – the Prime Minister’s post. Again in 2019, and 2024 similar noises were heard,  but the public has thought better of it. Finally, in 2024 he is the Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha. 

Just a few weeks ago another Nehru-Gandhi scion, Rahul Gandhi’s sister, Priyanka Vadra Gandhi has entered the political arena as a member of Lok Sabha.!

Therefore, the saga of independent  India has been the story of four generation Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty. So much for the democratic values of Nehruvian Era. 

Slogans Replace Philosophy

Since Indira Gandhi’s period slogans have replaced political philosophy. At the end of 1977, she was such a dominating figure in Indian politics that Congress party president D. K. Barooah had coined the phrase "India is Indira and Indira is India."

Soon after Indira Gandhi took over as the Prime Minister of India, she resorted to announcing economic programs of mass  appeasement such as nationalization of private banks, abolition of Privy Purse constitutionally promised to erstwhile Rajas and Maharajas. Soon she announced Garibi Hatao, a slogan as a state policy. This only confirmed that entire Nehruvian Era had  only resulted in enhancing poverty! But the emotive power of such actions and slogans were benumbing on the masses who not only forgot past policy  failures, but started to believe in their newer slogans. 

So much so, her grandson’s slogan today is “Jis ki Jitni Aabaadi, Uski Utni Bhagidari”, based on demand for and promise to carry out Caste Census. Lebanon had followed a similar policy based on religions, today it is a shattered country, overtaken by once a marginal Islamic race as soon as it gained comfortable share in the population. But Congress party and leaders are least bothered about the history lessons. They can go to any extent to regain the seat of Prime Minister.

My Way or Highway

Economic failures during Congress regimes have created only created poverty and masses who are susceptible to money and short-term benefits. Congress party has been continuously failing to retain its nationalistic position with repeated failures at the national elections. 

From the theatrics of fourth generation Rahul Gandhi since 2014, both inside and outside the Parliament, one can only conclude that now Congress believes that the Gandhi Family’s ‘sacrifices’ justifies its entitlement to the post of Prime Minister. No one else can occupy that post.  Hence for Nehru clan it is My Way or the Highway!

Missed Opportunities

On the hindsight it becomes clear that elongated Nehruvian Era has overlooked the intrinsic values and strength of Bharat. Its policies has been anti-Bharat, anti-Heritage, and anti-Hindu. A peep into the economic explosion soon after Dr.Manmohan Singh’s liberal economic policies in 1990 and thereafter exposes our losses during Nehru Era. 

The way Bharat provided solutions for much feared and challenging computer problems, popularly referred to as Y2K error to the world in 2000,  the way Bharat has gained world position in computer software technology and services since then, the way Bangaluru became a world’s second Silicon Valley, and more so the tempo of overall growth during Modii’s regime since 2014 raising from the tenth position to 5th position in the world GDP ranking all speak about opportunity lost during entire Nehru Era. Nehru Era for the Bharat,  is similar to a tragic Polio attack to a child.