If you thought that the soon-to-be-opened ITO metro station was all about local history, you may be wrong. Interestingly, the beautifully crafted wall art-work not only captures major landmarks in the area, but also hints towards the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some key campaigns initiated by his government.
In a first, the ITO station will also have toilets in the paid area of the concourse.
Built at a cost of 38.5 lakh the two artistic panels of size 30 m x 3.35 m each have been installed at the double height walls. One of the panel named, “Fantasies of Citizens in Indian Democracy”, sees an interesting transition in the socio-cultural and economic setting of the country. It begins with an insight into how the area is connected to the Indian freedom struggle by linking the Feroz Shah Kotla and the Khooni Darwaza. Then it is connected with the Indian National Science Academy through which the artist Renuka Sondhi Gulati has weaved India’s successful Mars mission – an achievement said to be close to the Modi government.
It also has the “Make in India Lion” along with a “crane” which bizarrely is shown lifting a “teapot”.
When The Hindu visited, the yet unopened station, the information board next to the panel read, “Lately, the people of India, who had been praying that things must change have awakened as the Central Pillar of Democracy. Perhaps their Silent Prayers have been answered, where a common man from a humble background get an opportunity to rise to the top and come up with a Vibrant Indian model of democracy, Made in India, thus, making India a name to reckon with.”
The other panel named, “The Journey of Life”, begins with a sculpture of a new born baby with a backdrop of Maulana Azad Medical College which was a jail once upon a time. It then moves on to depict childhood days through the Dolls’ Museum and a bronze sculpture of a young girl. This is followed by the tall gates of Pragati Maidan and its iconic hall which is likely to be demolished. The panel concludes with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA).
From vintage photographs of the first train on Hardinge Bridge (now Tilak Bridge) after it was widened in 1975 to running texts and images of buildings that have mushroomed in the Supreme Court-Feroz Shah Kotla stretch, the station also houses two other panels giving its users a deep insight into local history. Research for the content of the two panels has been done by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).
Sources said the inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) went smoothly and that no objections were pointed out during the safety check. In such a situation, the station could be opened within in two weeks time, they said.
Currently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in its trial runs is taking 2 out of every 5 trains coming to Mandi House station till ITO. This means that a commuter is likely to get trains at the ITO station at an interval of around 10 minutes owing to single-line operation on the stretch.