At Mumbai Metro stations, murals speak to commuters about a city on the move

By Virpratap Vikram Singh Andheri station has become something of a reflection point for India’s development – as you stand on the footbridge you can see the Mumbai suburban local train that has served for more than a century and half diligently making its way below; while the newest symbol of Mumbai’s modernity glides above the urban sprawl. [caption id=“attachment_1589963” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A splash of colour at Ghatkopar station. Photo by Virpratap Vikram Singh / Firstpost[/caption] The Mumbai Metro, which opened earlier this month, has successfully captured the interest of the everyday commuter. And to keep the sheen of the service on, the operator Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) had taken steps to maintain and beautify the Metro. A series of murals adorn the walls of as many as eight stations, each one a colourful and bold take on Mumbai and its very distinctive people. MMOPL launched their plan with a competition titled ‘Majhi Mumbai’ for fine arts, architecture and applied arts students of Mumbai. The winners of the competition were each given a canvas in the form of a station. They have managed to produce visually engaging works of art to better integrate the Metro into Mumbai, while also making the station more colourful The attempt to put art into Mumbai’s transport hubs is not a new one; the Mumbai’s International Airport has undergone a similar makeover in recent months. However, while those abstract pieces of art would only be visible to the privileged few who take international flights, the art at the Metro stations takes a number of styles, and will be visible to millions who use the Metro in coming weeks. So far, only eight of the twelve stations have been given this treatment, with work at several stations still being in progress. Among the images, there’s an ode to the Mumbai dabbawala, the ubiquitous Mumbai traffic constable, the city’s street food and the markets. [caption id=“attachment_1589965” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The dabbawalla, occupying a wall at Azad Nagar station. Photo by Virpratap Vikram Singh / Firstpost[/caption] But given Mumbai’s hectic pace, would the art work at the Metro stations even be noticed as more people start using the service? Nearly a month into the running of the metro, the metro trains are completely packed, but it seems very few people are noticing the vibrant works around them. The artists have placed the works strategically – so it’s almost impossible to overlook them. There are creative murals as you enter the station, as you buy your ticket, as you pass through the turnstiles and as you eventually leave the station. It’s hard to ignore, and by making the artwork revolve around Mumbai, it’s almost impossible for a commuter to not find something that speaks to them, all that commuters have to do is to start looking and appreciating.