Supreme Court Orders Restoration of Devaraj Urs Market, Lansdowne Building in Mysuru

The Supreme Court has ordered the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) to prepare a comprehensive plan for the renovation and restoration of the Devaraj Urs Market and Lansdowne Building, rejecting State government proposals to demolish and rebuild the heritage structures. The directive follows the submission of a technical evaluation by IIT Roorkee, which found that while vertical elements in both buildings remain largely repairable, horizontal components like roofs and slabs show severe deterioration.

IIT Roorkee's report assessed that approximately 70% of vertical structural elements in both buildings, including walls and columns, are in mild to moderate distress and can be restored through conservation. However, nearly 70% of horizontal elements—roofs and slabs—are in moderate to severe condition, with 80% of terrace-level slabs in the Lansdowne Building classified as severely deteriorated. The Devaraja Market's Madras-terrace and jack-arch roofs are in critical condition, requiring urgent intervention, while its brick barrel vault system remains structurally sound.

The court emphasized that past unauthorized alterations, including mezzanine floors and sealed arches, contributed significantly to the buildings' decline and must be removed during restoration to return the structures to their original architectural form. It stressed that consistent maintenance could have prevented extensive damage and noted that reconstruction of severely damaged components may be necessary within the broader conservation framework.

The Mysuru authorities are required to finalize the restoration plan in consultation with IIT Roorkee's findings and recommendations from INTACH. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for July 30, by which time the MCC and MDA are expected to submit their comprehensive proposal.