Vidhan Soudha statues to make way for Metro

Vidhan Soudha statues to make way for Metro

Senthalir S. Bangalore

Statues of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose in front of the Vidhana Soudha would soon make way for the underground segment of the Metro rail project.
The Bangalore Metro Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has written to the state government for temporary removal of the statues to begin tunnelling operations in the area. According to BMRCL managing director N Sivasailam, the statues will be reinstalled once work on the underground section gets over. "Work on the section will start from April 2009."
Heritage lovers, however, are not very happy with the BMRCL decision to remove the statues. "This is like disrespecting them. The government should remove them with due respect and place them either in front of Vikasa Soudha or on the northern side of Vidhana Soudha," said Suresh Moona, director of AARAMBH, an NGO that has been actively involved in the city's heritage campaign.
The construction is also bad news for the boulevard in front of Vidhana Soudha, which will have to go once the work starts.
But BMRCL and traffic officials say the boulevard will be back in shape after work gets over.
The Ambedkar Veedhi, which is currently being used by the traffic police to man the traffic from the high court, will be closed for three years to facilitate the Metro work.
BMRCL and traffic officials are planning to develop two bypass roads — from Gopal Gowda Circle to Thimmaiah Circle — to ease the problem.