For the first time, Metro Rail will be the bearer of the state’s cultural heritage. In a Rs 15 crore beautification programme, all six stations on Namma Metro’s Reach 2 from Mysore Road to Magadi Road will have replicas of Hampi monuments showcasing the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire as well as the rich cultural heritage of the state.
This will be part of the programme that will also see the roads, footpaths and the median below the elevated Metro stretch being given a makeover by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
On Thursday, the BMRCL officials inspected the area to take up the proposed beautification project. At present, the BMRCL has predominantly beautified the Reach 1 (Baiyappanahalli- MG Road) stretch which has been operational for over five years now by inviting corporate bodies to maintain medians, paint pillars and install art works that include paintings and murals at the MG Road metro station (Church Street side).
However, this would be the first time an initiative is being taken to beautify the Metro using the rich cultural heritage of the state.
At present, the roads and footpaths below the Reach 2 stretch are in a bad state due to shoddy maintenance.
The BMRCL has received suggestions to install replicas of monuments in Hampi and various art forms of the state at the Metro stations on Reach 2. There are six elevated metro stations on the reach – Mysore Road, Deepanjali Nagar, Attiguppe, Vijayanagar, Hosahalli and Magadi Road.
On Thursday, the metro officials inspected the stretch. BMRCL managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “There is a proposal to beautify the median as we have done other parts in the city along with other works. We are consulting artists and other agencies prior to taking up the project.”
Housing minister and Vijayanagara MLA M Krishnappa said, “During the inspection, we asked the BMRCL officials to upgrade the existing stretch. The BMRCL has agreed to spend the required money for the beautification of the stretch. The BBMP will also work on the footpath and drainage works on the entire stretch of 6.5 kilometres.”
He said the civic agency authorities have also been asked to work on parking spaces on the stretch which would benefit the general public.
“People say that although metro is faster and more comfortable, they end up in paying huge amounts for parking their vehicles at the stations for over eight hours. I have asked the BMRCL officials to consider the suggestion of lowering parking fees,” he said. The Reach 2 (Mysore Road station to Magadi Road station) was inaugurated on November 16, 2015 and commercial operations were started from November 18, 2015.
Although the BMRCL had managed to start commercial operations on the small stretch, it had received a lukewarm response from the people. Despite 113 round trips being operated on the line, hardly 2,000-2,500 travelled in the Metro.
The metro ridership increased only after the BMRCL managed to open the underground stretch (from Cricket Stadium to Magadi Road), which links the entire east-west corridor from Mysore Road to Baiyappanahalli, a distance of 18 km.
At present, between 1.4 lakh and 1.5 lakh people travel on this corridor and stations like Mysore Road station in Vijayanagar have seen a significant increase in footfalls.
This will be part of the programme that will also see the roads, footpaths and the median below the elevated Metro stretch being given a makeover by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
On Thursday, the BMRCL officials inspected the area to take up the proposed beautification project. At present, the BMRCL has predominantly beautified the Reach 1 (Baiyappanahalli- MG Road) stretch which has been operational for over five years now by inviting corporate bodies to maintain medians, paint pillars and install art works that include paintings and murals at the MG Road metro station (Church Street side).
However, this would be the first time an initiative is being taken to beautify the Metro using the rich cultural heritage of the state.
At present, the roads and footpaths below the Reach 2 stretch are in a bad state due to shoddy maintenance.
The BMRCL has received suggestions to install replicas of monuments in Hampi and various art forms of the state at the Metro stations on Reach 2. There are six elevated metro stations on the reach – Mysore Road, Deepanjali Nagar, Attiguppe, Vijayanagar, Hosahalli and Magadi Road.
On Thursday, the metro officials inspected the stretch. BMRCL managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “There is a proposal to beautify the median as we have done other parts in the city along with other works. We are consulting artists and other agencies prior to taking up the project.”
Housing minister and Vijayanagara MLA M Krishnappa said, “During the inspection, we asked the BMRCL officials to upgrade the existing stretch. The BMRCL has agreed to spend the required money for the beautification of the stretch. The BBMP will also work on the footpath and drainage works on the entire stretch of 6.5 kilometres.”
He said the civic agency authorities have also been asked to work on parking spaces on the stretch which would benefit the general public.
“People say that although metro is faster and more comfortable, they end up in paying huge amounts for parking their vehicles at the stations for over eight hours. I have asked the BMRCL officials to consider the suggestion of lowering parking fees,” he said. The Reach 2 (Mysore Road station to Magadi Road station) was inaugurated on November 16, 2015 and commercial operations were started from November 18, 2015.
Although the BMRCL had managed to start commercial operations on the small stretch, it had received a lukewarm response from the people. Despite 113 round trips being operated on the line, hardly 2,000-2,500 travelled in the Metro.
The metro ridership increased only after the BMRCL managed to open the underground stretch (from Cricket Stadium to Magadi Road), which links the entire east-west corridor from Mysore Road to Baiyappanahalli, a distance of 18 km.
At present, between 1.4 lakh and 1.5 lakh people travel on this corridor and stations like Mysore Road station in Vijayanagar have seen a significant increase in footfalls.