Title - NMA approves shifting of Tipu's armoury to lay railway line

The much-awaited approval for the shifting the 18th century armoury at Historic Town of Srirangapatana near the Railway Station by the National Monuments Authority (NMA) of the Archaeological Survey of India has been received and the last hurdle to take up track-doubling between Mysore-Bangalore is now cleared. The track-doubling project has been completed in parts till Channapatna from Bangalore-end and up to Naganahalli from Mysore-end.

The project hit a major roadblock at Srirangapatna as the armoury belonging to Tipu Sultan's era is along the track alignment and there were legal hurdles to shift the monument.

According to R Gopal, Director, Karnataka Department of Archaeology the NMA had given its clearance to shift the monument.

Consequently, the file has been referred to the Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, who heads the NMA (South) overseeing monuments in Mysore and Bangalore division.

As the head of the NMA for Bangalore and Mysore, he has to get the approval from the Ministry of Kannada and Culture and this is expected to happen 'anytime now' and is a mere formality, Mr Gopal said.