“TARLE” SUBBA and ARUN PADAKI write: In the documentary, “R.K. Narayan—India’s Chekov“, Narayan leisurely explains, that strolling through its cultural, natural, commercial and social landmarks, and enjoying the life around it—at the pace at which it moves—is the quintessential Mysore experience.
He observed that Mysore was designed to be walkable. It was designed to fire imaginations. Years later, though, misfiring pistons have captured the imagination of our city planners.
Interventions to calm and control these vehicles have slowly but steadily replaced what was once a pedestrian -friendly city to one that is inconvenient if not outright hostile to pedestrians. However, vehicles are our new reality, as are Seena, the Mysorean, and Bob, the tourist.
This is where the Mysore Heritage Trail comes in. It is a relatively low cost, high impact intervention, that would provide a safe, convenient, and sustainable pedestrian -friendly infrastructure towards sustain the charm of Mysore.
At a minimum, the trail will consist of elevated footpaths that are at least six feet wide and have distinctive leveled pavements. The trail should be barricaded from the road and be well lit. It should also have signs to landmarks, benches and garbage cans.
While it is conceptually a simple footpath network, serious effort will be needed to make this work. The key here is to strive for consistency and connectivity. For example, this means that the trail cannot disappear at intersections and intersections have to be deliberately designed for pedestrians by providing well-identified safe pedestrian crossings.
The key also is to recognize the primacy of the pedestrian in all city-planning decisions.
If done properly, apart from pedestrians, this would also benefit trail-side businesses. Further, this would form part of a “heritage hunt” for tourists. Tourists would saunter on these paths, using the distinctive pavement material of the trail as cue and come to discover heritage structures. Well made printed boards would briefly describe the heritage value of these treasures.
The image above is a suggestive schematic map of the trail. Eventually, the entire city could embody these pedestrian -friendly practices.
Can we generate some useful ideas in making this possible? Everything is open to discussion; benchmark issues and sustainability issues; path suggestions, material for footpaths, width, barricades, lighting, signages, finances, constraints of particular roads, community and business involvement. And, most importantly, how to get this done.
What R K Narayan was saying was Mysore of 1950s and 60s, perhaps in 1950s and early 60s when only once I saw him in walking along the hundred feet road. In late 1960s he was driven in his Mercedes. Can some one walk safely on foot paths now, if such things exist today?
exactly sir..
in the all the talk of infrastructure, it’s only the roads & their pavement quality get attention. what about footpaths, their widths & their pavements?
if the roads had been in the condition that the footpaths are in the entire media would have comedown. pedestrians are not a nuisance, they are as real as our vehicles. especially in the old city area pedestrian count is very high. but i’m unaware of any pedestrian friendly steps even in these areas.
that is why we need to think the footpaths themselves as important elements of the infrastructure. to begin if they can the roads shown truely pedestrian friendly, that will be a good start. here is a high resolution image of this.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/466050922_ca0b0a938a_o.jpg
i think they need to to regularize the path through town hall connecting KR Circle to Ashoka Rd diagonally.
‘TS’ and Arun: Thanks for tackling that is immensely important.I have been breaking my head fighting for pedestrian space in temple road, vontikoppal which has become a ‘Trample Road’.The divider, food shops, uneven footpath, lottery shops, radial parking has made this road a cross between American bombing of an Iraqi Bazaar and City Market of Bangalore. We took MCC Commisioner,Chandrashekar for a walk there and he admitted that the road needs a footpath for safe walking of Peadestrians.Don’t know wheh he will do it.
It’s a hell of an idea what you have proposed.We can meet the commissioner and D.C. with a plan. Plse, let me know if you are interested ?
The proposal is to be welcomed by all. They should insist the authorities to take up the project to make Mysore pedestrian-friendly. A pedestrian on the Mysore road is least respected. He has to face a lot of hurdles like hawkers on the footpath, illegal two-wheeler, four-wheeler parking in front of shops and hotels, traffic rule defying vehicle drivers. For example, it has become impossible to cross the Devaraj Urs Road even at pedestrian crossing zones. Almost every day, a pedestrian is injured while crossing the road here. Even when the policemen gives a stop for allowing pedestrians to cross at these points, the mobike drivers zoom past without caring for him and many others violate the line and stop their vehicle on the lines marked for pedestrian crossing. It is high time that the roads are made pedestrian-friendly.
Tarle & Arun: Great idea. A pedestrian friendly city is a livable city.
GS, I experience what you are describing every day in Bengaluru. Pedestrian is treated like a sub-human species. I can’t imagine the plight of older people trying to walk now a days. I have picked fights with people who drive on footpaths or park vehicles illegally on narrow roads.
Sadly, we are in an age of developer driven town planning. Let’s hope that the commissioner does something, even if it means basic improvements.
ERR,GS & RA,
Thanks for your positive feedback.
One of the reasons for posting it here was to solicit opinions from experienced, seasoned campaigners like ERR, GS and others. I would love to learn about your experiences in dealing with such issues.
One of things about this is how to approach the authorities. Should we approach them with a detailed plan or bottom line concept that will convince them to come up with well thought of detailed plans.
ERR, I have contacted KP for your email.
Thanks again.
Thanks Mr. Subba. Now that JJURM is still being planned, I fell the best thing to do is hand over the proposal in person to Selva Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Mysore and copies to Police Commissioner and Mysore City Corporation Commissioner. I had handed over a set of similar sugestions. I am happy to find now that one of my suggestions for building parking slots has been initiated by MUDA, including the one at Nallappa Thana Police Station premises, behind Chamundi Guest House. This in particular can ease parking pressure in DD Urs Road. Better to go with a bottom line concept and if they ok it, a detailed report can be given.
oLLe Pragathipara suggestion TS avare haagu Gourisatya avare .
GS…Neevu hege 4.00 Gante US (Eastern time) ge maathra churumurinalli message haaktheera??
Dear All,
Before we make Mysore safe for pedestrians, here are a few black spots (the last time I looked in Aug 2006) that need immediate attention: KR Hospital Stone Building and Nurse’s Hostel. These need to be cleaned up ASAP with new landscaping-trees and lawn with some benches. Right now the place functions as a public toilet!
Ditto with Veterinary Hospital–this needs to be shifted to some mofussil area of Mysore city. There is no need to have a veterinary hospital in the center of city!
We could start first by making existing footpaths even.
Thanks!
GS & ERR…
i could not locate your email. please email me
tarlexxbba gmail com replace xx with su
arun is ought of town on work and once he is back he’ll respond.
GS.. thanks for the input.
I posted a comment on your post some days back. That was a great initiative. we now need to impress upon them to use any space gained to increase footpath width rather than a widen the road.
DB… My fav aunt used to work there so used to visit that place frequently during summer. once she retired stopped going. has it really become a public toilet?
DG.. thanks
TS
When did you last visit Mysore? Yes the places I mentioned have really deteriorated!
Dheerendragopal – Good question! I will be generally browsing and working on the system till about 1-30 a.m.!
Subba- will look into your comment in my post and revert to you later. Pl persue your initiative.
Dear All,
Looks like we are at cross purposes here! Pedestrians in Mysore are best served by having more space to walk on–so building car parks although useful in their own right will have little impact. It is better to improve roads by constructing extra feeder roads in/out of Sayyaji Rao road, Ursu road and other roads. I am visualizing a series of flyovers that just bypass the central areas of Mysore as also a direct road linking railway station to the bus station and so on.
No. I am not dreaming but this is a practical way out for the existing congestion problems in Mysore. I would like to see bus stations shifted out to mofussil areas–no need to have centralized bus stations. May be IT can help! Use zoning tax and charge a few rupees to enter and leave CBD (Central Business District) a la London and Singapore style. In this way pedestrians can be better served.
DB…
As far as roads are concerned, increased capacity only means increased load. I.e., nobody ever solved the problem of congestion by building wider roads. This is a fact that is experienced and well known amongst planners and communities world wide. There are many communities that vehemently oppose any attempt to increase the road width, because it really means increased traffic load.
Now Mysore, the day the first flyover comes to old Mysore (say about 3-5km radius around the palace) that will be the end of Mysore, as we know it. Old Mysore is a heritage zone. Which means it is not a transport zone – it is not meant to connect one part of the city to another. For connectivity the ring road is the way to go and they need to plan other roads.
Old Mysore needs road network only to support inherent loads not to support connectivity to the larger city. What this means in my estimate is that the widest road that old Mysore supports is 2×2 road. This means the widest road is about 8-9 mtrs wide road (excluding footpath). A 1×1 road would be about 4-5 mtrs(excluding footpath). Why 2×2? Because eventually, that is the minimum basis to run an efficient bus based public transit in old Mysore, that can co-exist with other vehicles.
Again in Old Mysore road widening to accommodate congestion is a death knell. The only reason to widen any road is to provide about 2mtrs/lane width upto 2×2 lanes.
Ideally, planners control congestion through zoning. For example this means not allowing projects like the makkaji chowk mall. Why? because it is a mall and it will be frequented by people who use private vehicles. This will increase load in old Mysore to unmanageable levels. rank bad idea.
malls & such all outside the 5km belt.
Old Mysore is not going to die out as long as it remains the hub of tourism in south Karnataka. Eventually, commercial establishments, such as hardware & whole sale must shift out of core old Mysore area and that area must settle to lifestyle & tourist related services. As must core transit services like you have suggested.
So you fix road widths in old city and let the city ‘grow’ around it.
thanks.
TS ..Naavu nimmanna next corporator election nalli kaanabahudha?
Thank you. TS. You make good sense. May be we can ban heavy vehicles through city central inner streets–allow lorries to come in with goods only during 12.00 am to 4.00 am. Then we restrict parking access to taxis which can be at the farthest point from the Central district. Run minibuses to connect Taxi rank from center of the city. Avoid buses going through the main city roads completely.
I am not in favor of widening the road–we could build storeyed road ways, though. Well a ring road is already in place; we should extend it and may be we should consider a tighter ring road as well. Where is Makkaji Chowk mall? I have missed out on this–I have heard about it though…its a monstrosity and all that…
Sent you mail on your gmail account…
I disagree about not letting Buses (Public transport) on Main roads. This is used by peoplewho cannotafford a vehicleof their own. Therfore , the travel for them should be faster and safer. By not letting buses ply through main roads , it means they have to takea longer route – which means more time. People who have their own vehicles can take a longer route.
And Mr. TS you have opposed Makkaji chowk – My Classmate is fighting (legal) against the Promoters – case pending at high court. He has received numerous threat calls – I would be happyto put you onto him. Are you part of MGP ?.
Naveen,
My solution is to use minibuses on main roads–not the big buses! We should get used to using minibuses–they are more efficient and we can maintain them at a higher level of efficiency. IT can help! We just have to stop running big buses except on a limited frequency basis. Long distance buses of course need to be big buses for operating efficiencies and so on.
Subba, I agree with you. Old roads like Sayaji Rao Road, Ashoka Road and D.D.Urs Road cannot be broadened, as constructions are already there. In fact, when DD Urs road was formed, then CITB Chairman had planned a feeder road behind Urs road, by removing old houses there. But the juction points are encroached with shopping buildings now. Calcutta has proposed to build a modern vehicle parking building which can accommodate over 1,000 vehicles and computer operated for easy removal and parking of vehicles. I also agree with you that Mysore should have no flyovers like Bangalore, as it would cover the heritage structures. In Bangalore, the famous Victoria Market, is not visible at all, as it is covered by a flyover. Actually, such flyovers kill a city’s culture. The ring road has come as a blessing as trucks are now diverted on this road and they are allowed on main roads for unloading/loading only during certain hours when traiffic pressure is less. What Mysore needs separate lane for two-wheelers in wide roads like MG Road, JL Puram and Kuvempunagar main roads, road separaters to prevent accidents, better traffic management, ban on autos from using music systems as this is causing noise pollution apart from teasing of college/school going students, installation of more singal lights like on DD Urs Road, removal of unscientific humps and strict enforecement to avoid stray cattle on these main road and such other measures. In fact, on peak festival days like Deepavali, Ugadi, Urs and S.R. road should be made vehicle free for easy shopping by pedestrians in the evenings, say between 6 and 9 p.m. The shops should be given permission to open till midnight to lessen customer-flow during day timings.
DB:
If at all anythign has to be done – first Stop the IT buses and taxi Pickups.
I know the IT cheifs have said that infrstarucure is Govt responsibity – they have also complained about the traffic / chaos etc.
Their cheif have to follow their company buses – Each company bus have their own designated stop on main roads ( B’lore) so effectively office hour – One Lane is completely occupied by stationed buses.
every few meters – you will find Bosch , few more meters Infy bus, then Wipro – there is no end to this at all. Only if there are any monitoring with the company owned buses – it would be lot safer.
And I dont even want to talk about the TAXI drivers – they are a Menace!.
Dear Subba, Saw your comment in my post. Thanks. I have responded. We can continue to discuss about Mysore in my post also.
Hello Friends at Mysore,
Pl have look at his profile in WIKIPEDIA.
It is a little twisted. They have posted info
about his life almost entirely at TN.
We used to walk in front of his house
in Mysore, where he lived for decades and
created his famous literature.
Distorting the history is the fashion of ‘outsiders’.
Some body who has closely observed him as a
Mysorean should edit that page and update.