JOIN USFinally, a Metro station that is aesthetically designed
A design that blends perfectly into the backdrop of a line of heritage buildings is that of the Vidhana Soudha Metro station.
For those who have been complaining about the Metro constructions having marred the aesthetic appeal of Bengaluru, this certainly comes as a relief.
Even though it is still under construction, the structure calls one to take a second look at it. Built of stones, the entry structures are designed to look like the replica of Vidhana Soudha’s reception. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is also contemplating restoring the old statues once the civil work is complete.
The four-entry structures for the Vidhana Soudha Metro station are being constructed by the BMRCL on Ambedkar Veedhi, with Vidhana Soudha on one side and the High Court of Karnataka on the other. U A Vasanth Rao, General Manager (Finance), BMRCL, said that special attention had been paid to the design of the station as it stood adjacent to the seat of power.
“Vidhana Soudha is a brand in itself. So even at the station, we are trying to replicate the old designs that were used during the construction of Vidhana Soudha.
This will enhance the look and feel of the building,” he told Deccan Herald. The cost of constructing these structures is about 25 per cent more than that of the other metro stations. Seventy-five per cent of civil works are complete and commercial operations on the Mysuru Road-Baiyappanahalli stretch are likely to begin by November, Rao added.
According to an official working at the spot, the building is being constructed with Sadarahalli stones (a common form of granite seen in Bengaluru’s buildings) and is an RPC frame structure.
The rooftop and the chiselled borders which have intricate designs on them are being carved manually.
“Special sculptors have been hired for the work. The design that was adopted in the Vidhana Soudha’s reception area has replicated,” said the official.
The structure is being manufactured in parts at a place near Lumbini Gardens in Hebbal and is being put together at the site of the station.
Speaking about the architectural designs of Vidhana Soudha, Sathya Prakash Varanashi, Convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), said the structure was a representation of the new vision of people in the post-independence era.
“The grandeur is similar to that of the corridors of European palaces and domes of cathedrals. In all, it is a hybrid structure. It was constructed to make a statement that ‘we are here to protect you’,” he added.