3,000 Mumbaikars paint 'Majhi Metro' mural in Andheri

Around 3,000 Mumbaikars have successfully completed painting a wall measuring 4,000 square meters of Metro depot at DN Nagar in Andheri depicting moving Metro and the culture of Mumbai.

The operator of city's first Metro corridor between Versova and Ghatkopar had organised the wall painting wherein the 3,000 participants have painted the wall depicting Metro with them of displaying 'art in motion.'

The wall painting was a part of its annual festival named 'Majhi Metro' wherein around 3,000 citizens participants who painted for around two weeks that started earlier this month.

For two weeks, volunteers continued to paint the wall day and night while many also frequented to the site according to the availability of time.

Siddarth Sudhakar, a resident of Andheri, said, "I love art and I had to be part of this after I heard about the activity through colleagues and social media."

Sudhakar added, "The highlight was definitely the people - while we were painting the wall, one couldn't tell if you were an artist, volunteer, organizer, or employee because everyone was just so involved in getting it done. And at the end when we stood back and looked at what we had achieved. It was amazing and felt like Mumbai on a wall."

An MMOPL spokesperson said, "It was one of the largest participation of around 3,000 participants that painted more than 4,000 square feet of wall. The theme this year was 'Art in Motion' and it aims for higher community reach through the community wall art project. The wall will depict a version of 'Majhi Metro Art Train."

Another Andheri resident, Poonam Chablani, said, "Painting is something I am not at all good at but when I came to know that anyone can participate for the wall painting I just joined them leaving my business aside. I helped the volunteers for around 2-3 nights and also was there in the day-time whenever possible."

Every year MMOPL organises something form of 'artform' or an innovation to take its art festival to a new level. "The objective is to bring art to masses and celebrate art at public platforms. The popular contests of Majhi Metro namely photography, poetry and painting contests were also part of this year's "Art in Motion" theme," MMOPL added.

Meanwhile, around 4 lakh commuters use the Metro-1 services daily on a weekday since its operations started in 2014.

"It is important that the commuters also become stakeholders in its operations. It is through events like Majhi Metro that an effort has been made to inculcate a sense of co-ownership of Mumbai Metro among the commuters," MMOPL further added.

DIFFERENT STROKES

• The mural is based on a theme and depicts the culture of Mumbai and the moving Metro.
   
• The wall painting is part of an annual festival. 
   
• The event is organised by MMPOL, operator of the city’s first Metro corridor.