Mysuru City Corporation has launched a large-scale cleanliness drive along the Outer Ring Road ahead of the Mysuru Dasara festivities, removing garbage, plastic waste, construction debris and other discarded material while warning residents against illegal dumping.
The operation was carried out on Saturday as part of the second phase of the ‘Swachha Mysuru-Sundara Mysuru’ initiative. The drive began at 6.30am and covered several stretches of the ORR, which forms a key approach route and visible edge of the city for visitors arriving during the festival.
MCC Commissioner MK Savitha led the operation in association with neighbouring urban local bodies. Urban Development Cell project director Roopa BR and other officials also participated. The corporation said the exercise was intended to improve the appearance of Mysuru’s outskirts and create a cleaner environment before Dasara, which attracts lakhs of visitors to the city every year.
The waste removed during the drive included roadside garbage, plastic waste, construction debris and other discarded materials. The operation highlighted the challenge faced by civic agencies in maintaining cleanliness along major roads, where waste accumulation can affect both the public environment and the visual character of the city.
Savitha directed officials to prevent illegal dumping along the ORR and instructed the urban local bodies concerned to coordinate their efforts to keep the road and its surroundings clean. She also appealed to residents not to litter roadsides and to take responsibility for maintaining public spaces.
The MCC commissioner said the civic administration was preparing to receive the large influx of tourists expected during Dasara. She stressed that sustained community participation would be essential to prevent waste from accumulating again after the cleanliness drive.
The initiative comes as Mysuru prepares for the Dasara festivities, which are set to begin on Sunday. While the current operation has focused on clearing existing waste from the ORR, the corporation’s directions also place emphasis on continued monitoring and coordination among the local bodies responsible for the road’s surroundings. The next phase will depend on those agencies and the public preventing fresh dumping along the cleaned stretches.
