Metro draws up plan for Rangoli centres at more stations

The art, culture hub on MG Road has attracted hordes of visitors

The Bangalore Metrorail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), buoyed by the popularity of the Rangoli Metro Art Centre (RMAC), is exploring possibilities of starting similar centres to showcase art and culture at other stations that have space available.

The RMAC was launched about six months ago at the boulevard of the MG Road station.
Officials said that the Majestic station - which will be an interchange station where the north-south and east-west corridors of Namma Metro meet, is one of the possible locations for similar centres. Once complete, Majestic station will be the focal point of phase 1 and phase 2 of Metro.

BMRCL managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “We want to replicate RMAC at other stations. Though the Majestic station was not in the plan, we will make space for it once the station is ready”.

The RMAC, which was opened in May, had initially drawn considerable flak for replacing the legendary MG Road Boulevard. But that seems to have changed now with over five lakh people already having visited RMAC. In fact, the place has become a favourite haunt, especially during weekends, for Bangaloreans for a day full of fun and frolic. From children’s activity area to art galleries, there is something for everyone.

Says Surekha, curator, RMAC, “Till date we have held about 100 art and cultural activities here, including shadow play, streetplay, pottery workshops, photo exhibitions, Metro exhibition, drum jams, freedom jams, poetry and book reading sessions. We received overwhelming response to every activity. The idea is to expose everyone who comes here to art and culture”.

Already, about 5,000 people have penned their comments in over half a dozen visitors’ books, which were kept during various exhibitions and art activities at RMAC.

Shanti, a resident of Whitefield who comes with her children and parents-in-law almost every Saturday to RMAC, says, “Not only is it a day out for our entire family, but also it is an opportunity for us to be one step closer to our State’s rich art and culture.

Every time we come here, my children enjoy their game of snakes and ladders, my in-laws take a walk on ‘Huvina Haadi’ and my husband and I catch up on the exhibitions or the jam sessions. In the past few months, there has never been a time when the centre did not have an activity. I hope the centre continues to do good work,” she said.