Mysuru: The Heritage City of the state is fast getting a facelift. While restoration work of two heritage structures-Devaraja Market and Lansdowne building- are proceeding swiftly, the work of restoring the historic St Philomena’s Church will begin on Monday.
Savani constructions who have bagged the tender, are taking up the work under the guidance of experts of Indian Heritage Cities Network. “These heritages structures have lime mortar and Madras terrace as the common factor. We are using the same material used for constructing these building earlier, for the restoration work,” Ram Savani, Director of Savani Constructions told Deccan Chronicle.
The work on Lansdowne building is being taken up at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore while work on Devaraja Market has been launched at a cost of Rs 8.8 crores. The work on St Philomena’s Church will cost the exchequer Rs 2.76 crores. The project period of all three heritage structures is 18 months.
It is nearly five years since a part of the 124-year-old Lansdowne building in the heart of the city, collapsed killing four people on the spot. The shop keepers in the building were vacated and were accommodated in temporary shops built on the opposite side. After much delay, the work on restoration of the heritage structure has begun.
Mysuru’s Devaraja Market
Lansdowne building which is designed in the Gothic style of architecture, was built during the reign of the Maharaja of Mysore Sri Chamaraja Wadiyar in 1892, to commemorate the visit of the British Viceroy, Lansdowne and his wife to the city. The building with 350mm walls and a Madras Terrace, has a ground floor and the first floor, with a total 97 shops including 55 on the ground floor and 42 on the first floor. The terrace and the walls will be strengthened now.
St Philomena’s Cathedral, said to be the second largest church in the state, attracts a huge number of tourists from across the world and was built in the Neo-Gothic style in 1933 during the reign of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. Some places leak during heavy rains and the stagnant water is said to have affected the roof and walls, damaged even some part of the art work of the Cathedral. The art work will be restored and the roof and walls strengthened. A rain water outlet is also being planned.
The 120-year-old Devraja market at the heart of the city, still gives visitors a feeling of a traditional market amidst mushrooming supermarkets. The shop area and the ceiling made out of Mangalore tiles is in a dilapidated state. The tiles will be replaced with new products and the walls will be strengthened.
