BMC mulls special gallery for new busts

With the rising demand for busts to be installed in the corporation hall of the BMC headquarters, the civic body has come up with an idea of setting up a special gallery next to the existing hall. It will be in accordance with the building’s grandeur.

The demand for busts of national leaders is increasing with increase in the number of corporators. But presently, there isn’t ample space to accommodate the corporators as well as the busts.
The new gallery will include their latest demands, which are busts of Jijamata, Prabodhankar Thackeray, poet Kusumagraj and social reformer Savitribai Phule.

Sources claim the civic body is expecting a stronger demand for a memorial for the late Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray.

“We will have to rope in heritage consultants to help us  create additional space for the busts. They should look like they are a part of the existing hall. It has its own beauty, which the gallery should have as well,” a senior civic official said.

The concept of making and designing the gallery will be done by the consultants once the work order is ready, the official said.

There are 11 statues in the corporation hall — of Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dadabhai Naoroji, Lokmanya Tilak, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule and justice Bhalchandra Bhatawdekar.