SA Ramdas waved away his convoy, jumped on to his friend’s scooter and began a bumpy ride through the city roads dotted with countless humps.
In olden days, the kings used to go in disguise and live among the people to understand their problems first-hand. The erstwhile rulers of Mysore too followed this practice.
Today, without any disguise, a minister followed this practice to get a first-hand knowledge of the condition of roads in Mysore.
SA Ramdas, district in-charge minister of Mysore, sprang a surprise on Wednesday as he waved away his convoy, jumped on to his friend’s scooter and began a bumpy ride through the city roads dotted with countless humps.
The friend, who was riding pillion, was none other than commissioner of Mangalore City Corporation KS Raikar.
“This exercise was not a show. I wanted to really feel the hardships of the common people and I wanted to go through what they undergo every day,” said Ramdas.
But the convoy did not want the minister to take an uncharted course. They faithfully followed him and soon the convoy swelled in size with more officials joining them.
Later, the minister explained why he went on his own.
“I had heard about the city roads being awfully bad. Today, I really felt it. I couldn’t ride throughout the whole city since it was getting ready for Dasara festivities. So I restricted my tour to a few roads that lead to the busy places during Dasara like the Doddakere Maidan, Ittigegud, Race Course Road, Vidyaranyapuram, JP Nagar, LIC Layout and Ballal Circle. I shall take a second round, preferably on a scooter, to cover the rest of the city,” he said.
As usual, Mysore will get a facelift for Dasara. All heritage sites have been cleaned up. The main palace is witnessing landscaping and gardening works estimated to cost Rs50 lakh.
Before leaving, Ramdas drew the attention of Mysore Urban Development Authority officials to empty residential sites which have become dump yards and given a dirty look to the city.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}