Bengaluru: Even as the BMRCL is busy with the Commissioner of Rail Safety's inspection of the Phase 1 line of the Metro Rail from Nagasandra to Yelachenahalli, the Directorate of Urban Land Transport(DULT) is gearing up to throw open the heritage themed K R Metro station.
Passengers will have an interesting time getting to the trains as each of the five gates of the station will chronicle the city's history.
"Gate 1 will represent the 16th century urban vision of Kempegowda , whose material influences include mud and sand. Gate 2 will represent the Maratha period when geometric patterns, fabrics, scents and ornaments were popular," explained an official from DULT.
While Gate 3 will display the military and aesthetic vision of the tiger of Mysuru, Tipu Sultan, using plaster, wood and metal, Gate 4 will bring alive the aesthetic vision of the Wodeyar dynasty, especially in stone. Lastly, Gate 5 will showcase the administrative vision of the East India Company using stone and metal.
"Tourists can walk through a special lane from Tipu Sultan Palace to the Fort, going through a 350 metre long plaza, which will have a pergola (garden shaded walkway), trees , benches and an open amphitheatre. The walk will also be a fun one with board games like hopscotch on offer," the official said.
The Metro, which is expected to hit the tracks on this line tentatively by June end, will cater to four kinds of commuters at KR Market: tourists, patients, students and bus commuters, who will have access to Vani Vilas Hospital, PU College, Kalasipalya TTMC and the Bengaluru Medical College.
DULT claims that 75 per cent of its work is done, including construction and the stations are ready to be used as and when BMRCL wishes. Certain softscaping features will take longer, like the Tourist Pavilion, alternative road to BMTC bus stand, planting of trees and the theme based art work, according to its officers. What is almost ready is a concrete three lane road leading to Tipu's Palace, they reveal.
