Murals with social messages on Karnal flyovers

Parveen Arora

The drab, colourless spaces on all five flyovers on the National Highway-44 within the limits of Karnal city are being transformed into corners of colour, art and amusement.

Stunning art works in vibrant colours with messages on cleanliness and anti-pollution are adding appeal to the flyovers that now look beautiful and attractive. Not only the walls, but also the slopes of the flyovers are being painted with beautiful and colourful murals by artists. 

It is going to be a reality with the efforts of the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The corporation is eying the top position in the Swachh Survekshan-2019 across the country. Karnal city, which is represented by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the Legislative Assembly, had secured the first place in the state and the 41st rank in India out of more than 4,000 cities in the Swachh Survekshan-2018. 

The KMC has roped in private and nationalised banks and corporate houses to give a facelift to these flyovers with eye-catching paintings under the corporate social responsibility (CSR). Last year, the KMC had organised a painting competition to beautify the walls of a flyover on the ITI Chowk. Artists from across the country participated in the event and showed their talents by painting the walls of the flyover. This time, the KMC is taking the help of corporate groups and banks to make the city beautiful. Artists depicted various scenes to educate people about cleanliness.

Rajiv Mehta, KMC Commissioner, who is credited with the initiative, says that it is an attempt to beautify Karnal city, besides sensitising people about cleanliness. Now, it is the responsibility of people to maintain the beauty of these spaces.

The flyover near the Baldi bypass is being beautified by the Liberty group. Besides painting its walls, the corporate house is developing a park on the junction of the NDRI road and a service lane on the NH-44. Similarly, the flyovers on the Nirmal Kuttiya Chowk, Government College Chowk, Meerut Road Chowk and the Namastey Chowk are being embellished by HDFC, ICICI, IndusInd Bank and others. The banks are getting the walls of the flyovers painted, while the KMC is getting the slopes decorated. 

Besides, the banks are also beautifying the areas around the flyovers by planting decorative plants that reduce air pollution. “We have taken the initiative under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to beautify all five flyovers falling within the city limit. On our call, various banks have offered to help us,” the Commissioner says.

Mehta says that they have decided to beautify some spaces that people have been using for dumping garbage. “Our main focus is to educate people about ‘clean Karnal’. The flyovers are perfect places to spread the message through these beautiful paintings,” he adds.

He says that Map my India, a private company, has also beautified the ITI Chowk at a cost of Rs 2.75 lakh. Mehta says that these paintings will also help commuters to identify the road during foggy days, as the slabs of the drains along the flyovers are also being painted. 

Karnal residents are appreciating the initiative of the KMC. “The artistic work on the flyovers is meant to educate commuters as well as Karnal city residents about the importance of cleanliness. The step will also enhance the aesthetics of these public spaces,” says Urvashi, a resident of CHD City.

“It is a good initiative of the KMC to promote mural art in Karnal. It will serve the dual purpose of spreading cleanliness message and also beautifying the vicinity,” says Suresh Kumar, a teacher.