Mysuru’s 130-year-old Lansdowne Building is once again at the centre of debate as a team from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) inspected the site on Friday. Accompanied by Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) officials, including deputy commissioner KJ Sindhu and engineers Madhusudan and G Venkatesh, the inspection aimed to assess the building’s structural condition.
The heritage structure, once a vibrant commercial centre, was closed after part of its roof collapsed in 2012, tragically killing four people. Since then, the site has remained cordoned off, and shopkeepers were shifted temporarily. The building’s fate — whether to restore or rebuild — has remained unresolved for over a decade.
The matter reached the Supreme Court, which has asked for clarity on the demolition and potential restoration, underlining the need to balance heritage conservation with public safety. INTACH Mysuru convener NS Rangaraju stated that the court is seeking expert recommendations on whether demolition is necessary and who would be qualified to certify and oversee the restoration.
Over the years, several technical teams — including conservationists, architects, and structural engineers — have evaluated the building. Their proposals ranged from partial reconstruction that retains the original style to full restoration using modern materials and methods.
MCC’s deputy commissioner confirmed that the Supreme Court has tasked INTACH New Delhi with a detailed structural stability report, which could be decisive for the building’s future.
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