Namma Metro, a revolution in culture

Bengaluru: Artist Milind Nayak, whose show – Fragments from an unstructured existence – premiered at the Rangoli Metro Art Centre earlier this year, says he spoke to over a 1,000 people in the course of three weeks. “All I had to do was sit in the gallery every day for a couple of hours and people would wander in to start a conversation,” said Mr Nayak. “It really makes a difference to have a corner for art in a public space like this, to make it accessible to everyone, not just the gallery crowd.”

It began with the occasional play, a concert and a monthly drum circle – people heading to the Metro station found themselves drawn toward the installations, exhibitions and concerts that invariably took place over the weekends. The initiative, which was to turn the station into a hub for art and culture, grew so big that BMRCL is now looking at a slew of other projects to boost tourism and to integrate Namma Metro with the lives of Bengalureans. It seems the sky is the limit, with a proposed heritage walk, an ‘art station’ at Peenya, flea markets to encourage local artists and shopping centres, especially at points like Mantri and Orion Malls.

“The bottom line for the Metro is to provide transport and to reduce congestion on the streets, but we saw the opportunity to convert stations into active public spaces,” said Mr Vasanth Rao, General Manager, Finance, BMRCL. “The idea was to encourage excellence in various forms of art. That way, we can create a greater level of art appreciation within the public, because it’s not often that they have a chance to interact with artists. There is no market for art at the moment, people don’t understand its value. Maybe we can change that.”

The BMRCL’s role, said Mr Rao, is to facilitate those who want to transform the stations. “We're trying to replicate the MG Road model in other stations as well and the demand for a heritage walk has also grown.” The Metro corridor already runs through various sections of the city – the central business district, the temple corridor and old Bengaluru. “We don’t directly involve ourselves, but we can encourage those who want to give it a shot.”

Handicraft stalls at metro stations

The Namma Metro is falling in line with the global trend – cities across the world pride themselves on the art that grows out of its train stations. “This culture boom is good, but it can be done more aggressively,” said urban expert V. Ravichandar. “There’s a lot of scope that could have been exploited, especially if the stations had a couple of more floors.” A proposal for a heritage walk has already been sent to the Tourism Department, he said. “It can tie up with the state's tourism plans. We can even visualise a future Bengaluru Habba with venues in and around the Metro.”

Architect Naresh Narasimhan, who is behind the proposed heritage walk that will take place around City Market, says the BMRCL’s efforts are commendable. “They are integrating art and culture as part of the mobility experience,” he said. “It should be extended to all stations across the network – we have given the city pedestrian-friendly zones.”

Shopping is another major part of Namma Metro's potential – the Yeshwantpur station ends at the mouth of Orion Mall, while the Malleswaram station is positioned inside Mantri Mall. “Art brings us goodwill, but we need more than that to survive,” said Mr Rao. “We need to make money for Namma Metro, which has huge loans.” Space in the stations has been rented out to various kiosks, pharmacies, cafes and tech stores. “If you want to get your mobile phone repaired, need to buy medicines or grab a sandwich on your way to work, you can, if you take the Metro. It will make the experience that much more convenient.” he said. “I see a lot of people sitting at the cafes on MG Road, with a cup of coffee and a book. That's what public spaces are all about.”

Handicraft stalls at metro stations

M.G. Road Station
The Rangoli Metro Art Centre and the MG Road Boulevard have turned the city centre into a vibrant hotspot for art and culture. Art exhibitions, concerts and plays have brought people flocking to M.G. Road during the weekends, while daily commuters arrive a few minutes early so they can get themselves a cup of coffee before they head off to work.

City Market
One of the likely starting points of the proposed heritage walk, which will take people through monuments like Tipu’s Armoury, City Fort, Tipu’s Summer Palace and Kote Venkateramanaswami Temple, one of the oldest in the city. It is the one of oldest parts of the city and tourism can get a significant boost once the station is up and running.

Peenya
In one of their most interesting initiatives, the Peenya station has become a dedicated ‘art station’. 50 students from the Srishti School of Design came forward to set up installations and do paintings across the space.

Malleswaram and Yeshwanthpur
Both stations open out into two of the city’s biggest malls – Mantri Mall in Malleswaram and Orion Mall in Yeshwanthpur. Shopping is much more convenient, especially for the city’s harried people, who don’t really have much time on their hands.