A live performance of age old Bollywood song tunes by a professional musical group and a karaoke performance by UT Chief Engineer cum Special Secretary Engineering Mukesh Anand set the tone for making the modern pedestrian underpass between the Sector 16 Rose Garden and Sector 17 City Centre one of the most happening places in the tricity. It was formally inaugurated in chilly conditions on Wednesday evening by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore.
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Such was the excitement at the inauguration that Bollywood actor and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher could not hide her elation over “the most wonderful thing to happen to the city”, even as city police chief Sanjay Baniwal, seated on a sofa, was seen making a few playful synchronised body moves to the Bollywood tunes.
Photos By : Life In Chandigarh
The underpass includes a 62 metre long and 12 metre wide well lit tunnel with wide and comfortable approach ramps, providing for golf carts and bicycles to ply from both sides, and a 100-seat amphitheatre. It is impressively landscaped with beautiful pieces of sculpture and topiary. Planned to be a self sustaining project with provisions for hosting art exhibitions, dance and theatre performances, etc, an elaborate music system with karaoke facility is also being installed at the underpass to provide a platform for budding singers.
Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi put up an impression art exhibition of its collections in the tunnel on the occasion to demonstrate how it can be done. Mukesh Anand sang “Bekarar karke haemin yun na jayiye ….” to set an example for karaoke performances. The musical group also did its bit to inspire future performers.
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Visibly impressed with what he saw, Badnore admitted that frankly he could not truly fathom the value of the concept when drawings and a presentation were shown to him before the start of work on the underpass two years ago. The actual outcome is way beyond my concept and the perception of it, he added.
Reiterating the administration’s commitment to restoring the old pristine glory of Sector 17 and Chandigarh as a whole, he said several recent actions like installation of musical fountains and relocation of street vendors were all steps in that direction. India International Centre is also being brought to the city to boost its tourism potential, he informed.
Referring to his recent visit to Indore to study its model of cleanliness, he said right from leaving the airport he was witness to clean roads and pavements opposite shops. The only differentiator between Chandigarh and the star city of Madhya Pradesh was the total involvement and participation of the general public in the movement. “We need to do the same in Chandigarh and make it the No. 1 city in the country again. Cooperation of the people is critical for the success of our endeavours and we will seek it in full measure,” he emphasised.
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