It’s been a year since the Rangoli Metro Art Centre opened on the city’s M.G. Road. Citizens who flocked to the popular public space expecting some grand celebration were disappointed to find that the centre was closed.
The Art Centre, which is generally closed on Tuesdays, remained so on its anniversary as well with its drawn barricades and shut doors .
From the popular drum jam to staging plays and cultural performances, the centre has been a major draw for people of all ages . So much so that citizens, who bemoaned the loss of the boulevard, now aver that the Rangoli Art Centre has made the public space accessible to all.
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Unaware that the centre would be closed, many citizens visited the place only to be informed by the guards that it was not open.
Madhav, who works in a hotel on M.G. Road, said that instead of being closed, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) should have organised some celebrations to mark the centre’s anniversary. Likewise, Venkat Swamy and his 13-year-old daughter Bhavana were disheartened to find the art centre closed. U.A. Vasanth Rao, general manager, BMRCL told The Hindu that “every day is a celebration” at the art centre while admitting that no celebrations were planned for its anniversary. He also said that the BMRCL hoped to bring in more innovative activities towards a revival of traditional art and culture, remarking “We have received public acceptance. We hope to have bigger and better events in future.” that a market place for artisans would be set up soon at the centre.