The corporation's move was taken keeping in mind the upcoming Dasara festival.

The move comes in the wake of an Express report on the authorities' decadelong lethargy over making a permanent arrangement for the restoration of the broken sword.

Deputy commissioner P Manivannan had asked officials to ensure that the restoration work was of high quality. The Palace Board had given the responsibility of the restoration to the dean of the Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA).

However, non-cooperation and lack of coordination among officials of the various departments has led to a temporary arrangement being made.

The corporation took up the project, through a private firm, as part of its yearly programme and finished it in a day.

CAVA dean Deshpande said that he took the measurement required for the sword on August 22 and will soon start work using Rajasthan marble. He was shocked to learn that temporary work had been done and a sword of plaster of Paris was in place.

British sculptor Robert Colton had made the statue in Italian marble. The statue was then exhibited in Royal Academy in London before being installed near the palace in 1918.

The original sword was broken by some miscreants about 10 years ago.