Work on metro station at Minsk Square begins

Work on metro station at Minsk Square begins

Staff Reporter
Ajeet aircraft shifted to HAL overhaul division

The area will be barricaded by October-end

BANGALORE: Even as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) authorities on Monday commenced preparatory works, including cutting of trees for the Cricket Stadium underground station at Minsk Square, the Ajeet aircraft, which was a part of the square for more than a decade, has silently reached the hangers of the overhauling division of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) here.

The contractor assigned the work of clearing the area for the station began cutting trees at the Minsk Square and part of the Raj Bhavan Road. After the trees are cut, utility lines — electricity, water and telephone — passing through the area will have to be shifted. By October-end, the area will be barricaded for the excavation work, said BMRCL spokesperson.

On the other hand, employees of HAL and general public for whom Ajeet had been a part of their routine, are finding it difficult to come to terms with the absence of the aircraft. The Ajeet was removed from Minsk Square last week to facilitate Namma Metro work, said HAL spokesperson.

One of the Ajeet aircraft, the 1975-make single-seater interceptor and light attack aircraft manufactured under licence from British Folland Gnat, was placed at the Minsk Square after it was decommissioned in 1991

Once the area is barricaded for earth excavation, traffic from Cubbon Road and Queen’s Road will have to make a detour to proceed towards T. Chowdiah Road and further to Bellary Road even as traffic from Infantry Road towards South and South-East Bangalore will be diverted to other roads.

To be restored
While HAL is not sure whether the square will be restored to its original form, BMRCL spokesperson assured that once the station is constructed and the ground is covered, the area will be restored to its original glory.

The HAL spokesperson said the word Minsk has had close association with the company. In fact, HAL has named its bi-monthly publication as Minsk Square Matters. Minsk is the capital city of Belarus, part of the erstwhile Soviet Union and is known for several revolution meetings. Belarus officials who visited Bangalore sometime back were deeply impressed by the city’s gesture in naming the square after their capital and now Minsk came to have a Bangalore Square, explained the spokesperson.