New Delhi, Oct 8 Namo Bharat stations will soon double as spaces for art exhibitions, heritage showcases, literary events and cultural programmes, with NCRTC signing an MoU with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) to bring India’s rich cultural traditions closer to commuters.
The collaboration will explore and facilitate curated art and cultural exhibitions, heritage showcases, literary events, workshops, lectures, awareness programmes and other public engagement initiatives at Namo Bharat station premises, according to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation.
It said that the partnership assumes significance on the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, connecting two cities with deep historical and cultural links. Delhi has been central to India’s political and cultural history, while Meerut is associated with the First War of Independence in 1857 and traditions linked to the Mahabharata era.
At present, the Namo Bharat corridor serves around 1.1 lakh commuters daily and has crossed 4.5 crore commuter journeys, NCRTC said, adding that the number of daily passengers has been witnessing a rising trend.
The growing commuter footfall also presents an opportunity to use station premises as public spaces where people can encounter different facets of India’s artistic and cultural heritage during their everyday journeys, it said.
Under the MoU, IGNCA will contribute its expertise in preservation, promotion and dissemination of India’s artistic, cultural and heritage traditions, while NCRTC will provide a platform within its station premises for curated cultural initiatives.
The partnership will also create opportunities for students, artists, cultural practitioners, educational institutions and other communities to engage with Namo Bharat stations through programmes focused on learning, participation and appreciation of India’s cultural diversity, the corporation said.
The initiative is part of NCRTC’s efforts to develop Namo Bharat stations as vibrant public and social spaces, while providing IGNCA another avenue to take India’s artistic and cultural heritage to a wider and more diverse audience, it added.
(PTI News)
