Ghaziabad junction getting a makeover with ‘stress free paintings’

They expect the project to span two years. Presently, the volunteers, painters and artists are painting various dance forms on the pedestrian bridge that connects Vijay Nagar to the city area.

Painters and artists of an NGO are adorning the old walls of the Ghaziabad railway junction complex with ‘stress free paintings.’ The volunteers are painting old arches, corridors and the pedestrian bridge at the station complex, to do away with the sight of pan spit-stained walls and the bland look at other spots.

The volunteers have painted the walls with vibrant colours. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The volunteers have painted the walls with vibrant colours with prominent themes being nature, dance forms and the first war of independence, which they say will be a treat for commuters who are caught up in the hustle-bustle of daily life.

They expect the project to span two years. Presently, the volunteers, painters and artists are painting various dance forms on the pedestrian bridge that connects Vijay Nagar to the city area.

The volunteers have also waterproofed the arches and walls, and are using high-grade colours so that the paintings retain their sheen for another decade.

“The bridge is used by thousands of people every day. Those using it have a habit of spitting pan and gutkha, which makes the passage unhygienic and ugly. It is with great effort that we cleaned the passage and have come up with paintings. It is tough to paint and keep the walls clean as people often spit on the paintings. We have not given up on educating people to keep the city clean,” said Udita Tyagi, national president of csDishaa Foundation.

“At every arch, we have started painting eminent personalities from the first war of independence. We are coming up with paintings of Bahadur Shah Zafar, Begum Hazrat Mahal and Tatya Tope, among others. Some arches will also have war scenes with description. Since passengers have a long waiting time, the paintings will provide a stress-free environment and also beautify the old walls,” Tyagi said.

Once completed, the NGO will also offer the walls and arches to the public for adoption and maintenance.

The volunteers have also waterproofed the arches and walls, and are using high-grade colours so that the paintings retain their sheen for another decade.

“The idea behind the paintings is to clean up the surroundings and uplift the passengers. The NGO has taken up the work under an understanding with Railways. The station building is more than a century old,” said Mahesh Yadav, area traffic manager, Ghaziabad.

Once completed, the NGO will also offer the walls and arches to the public for adoption and maintenance.

The Ghaziabad junction is a busy transit route for trains going towards Delhi, Haridwar, Kanpur and Bareilly, among other locations. It is estimated that nearly 2 lakh passengers use the facility every day.