Mysuru's Iconic Dufferin Clock Tower stops ticking

Mysuru, NT Bureau: The iconic Dufferin Clock Tower, popularly known as Chikka Gadiyara in Mysuru, has stopped working.

Located opposite Devaraja Market near Mysuru Palace, it was built to commemorate the visit of the British Viceroy to India and to the royal city in the late 1890s.

This clock tower, one of the historic landmarks of the city, has stopped ticking for the last few months due to poor maintenance by the authorities.

People from various walks of life, street vendors in the market surroundings and even the public have expressed their anger against the officials concerned for not getting the clock repaired.

Lord Dufferin was the Viceroy of India and the clock tower was commissioned in his honour during his visit on the invitation of Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar in 1886 and hence, it was named Dufferin Clock Tower.

This clock used to provide the time for street vendors, traders, newspaper distributors and the public for many years and they have a special attachment with the clock.

Though there are smart phones and smart wrist watches now, it has become a habit for people working in the market to look at the clock to know the time, said Mahadevu, a banana trader at Devaraja Market.

He said members of Devaraja Market Traders Association brought the issue to the notice of Mysuru City Corporation but their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

District Heritage Committee member and INTACH convener Prof Rangaraju said though the MCC has maintained the Chikka Gadiyara opposite the city market well, they failed to oversee the functioning of the clock.

''Apart from ensuring the clock works well, I request the MCC to operate the fountain at the tower at least on weekends as the city draws huge visitors``, he said Speaking to News Trail.

MCC superintendent Engineer Sindhu said that MCC has given a contract to a person named Venkatesh for maintenance and repair of clock towers including Doddagadiyara also known as silver jubilee clock tower at Town Hall.