Our city’s star seems to be on the ascendance, opening up new vistas of development not seen in the past in order to keep pace with the new development mantra heard from every politician’s lips these days.

V. Sreenivasa Prasad, Revenue Minister and District In-Charge Minister, spoke of his vision for our city here last evening after inaugurating The Atrium Hotel at Belavatha, near Columbia Asia Hospital on Mysore-Bangalore road here.

Congratulating the promoters of the hotel, Sreenivasa Prasad said this hotel would cater to the ever-increasing need for good, comfortable rooms for the ever-increasing number of tourists to this city. While hospitality industry is the bedrock of tourism, there are other areas too that should be developed in order to attract tourists, he said.

He laid special attention to the development of roads and parking facilities towards this end and said the work on double-tracking Mysore-Bangalore railway line is now given impetus and will be completed soon once the Tipu’s Armoury is relocated with the help of an American company.

Similarly, all efforts would be made to complete the NICE road which would shorten the travel-time between Mysore and Bangalore to just one-and- a-half hours.

Sreenivasa Prasad said, Mysore, being the cultural capital of Karnataka, has more tourist destinations than Bangalore and the government should exploit this advantage to attract more tourists.

Tanveer Sait, former Minister and MLA from N.R. Constituency, who was the chief guest, said that close to the hotel there was a temple built by Hyder Ali during the 18th century and a plaque in this regard was found.

While appreciating the promoters of the hotel, he said there was a need for the government to support such endeavours.

Tanveer Sait said that such ventures would help promote tourism which in turn, would not only promote city’s trade and commerce, but also help make Mysore an important tourist destination in the world.

Tanveer Sait said that the present Airport at Mandakalli should be shifted as there is absolutely no land for expansion and upgrade it. “On one side there is the railway line and on another side there is the State Highway; and there is the Chamundi Hill. As a result, it is not an ideal location for the airport,” he said.

According to him, there is about 800 acres of forest land in Mahadevapura towards the north-east of Mysore city, close to Srirangapatna, where the present airport could be shifted if the government made available this land. This will also help future expansion without any constraint for land.

Former Minister S.A. Ramdas, MLA Vasu, MLC G. Madhusudan, BJP Mysore City President Maruthi Rao Pawar, Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Sudhakar S. Shetty and others were present.

Earlier, Vidwan Dr. Vidyabhushan, renowned vocalist, inaugurated the vegetarian restaurant Swad.

The hotel, built with modern technology, has on display in the interiors, the famous tourist places of Mysore.

The three-storey hotel has 22 rooms on each floor, 66 air-conditioned rooms, a spacious lawn for hosting outdoor functions, an auditorium with a seating capacity for 200 persons, an exclusive swimming pool for children, gym, spa, wifi and other amenities.

Mahila Dasara launched

Mysore, Oct. 7- Women and Child Welfare Minister Umashree launched the Mahila Dasara in city by flagging off a colourful procession near the DC office here this morning.

Nearly 200 women most of them from rural areas and carrying Kalashas, accompanied by folk troupes, marched in the procession passing through Vinobha Road, JLB Road and Dhanvantri road, before culminating at JK Grounds, the venue of the five-day Mahila Dasara.

Women and Child Welfare Dept. Director Gureet Tej, DC Shikha, Sub-Committee President Susheela Keshavamurthy and others were present.

Later, Minister inaugurated the stage programme at JK Grounds by lighting the lamp.

Speaking on the occasion, Umashree regretted that women were being looked upon as second grade citizens even after Independence and existence of a strong constitution.

MLA Vasu, Mayor N.M. Rajeshwari, ZP President M. Mahadev, UN Women’s wing member Ujameya and others were present.

The Mahila Dasara has more than 20 stalls, with women self help groups from various parts of the State taking part. Also, candles, food items, clothes, artefacts and articles prepared by women entrepreneurs and women self help groups are on display and sale at the venue.

Also, a variety of cultural programmes will take place on every day of the event, which concludes on Oct.11.
    
 

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore