Bengaluru: Until a few weeks ago, the colourful pedestrian plaza beneath the viaduct near Indiranagar Metro station was packed with visitors. On most evenings, people gathered there to eat, socialise and unwind. Today, the once-bustling space stands silent and inaccessible.When TOI visited the area last week, a white gate was found to be blocking public access to the plaza. A security guard stationed at the entrance ensured no one entered the premises.The walkway houses around 10 eateries in its two-storey structures and includes seating areas for visitors. The property, owned by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), had been leased out to a private firm, which in turn subleased spaces to restaurants and advertisers.Decorated with rainbow-themed festoons and marketed aggressively on social media through its own Instagram page, the plaza quickly became a popular hangout spot. Its colourful aesthetics and vibrant atmosphere attracted large crowds, particularly young visitors. However, urban planners and safety experts had also raised concerns about commercial activity operating in close proximity to the Metro viaduct. “The place has been closed for the past 15-20 days. It has been locked and we don’t know when it will reopen,” a security guard said.According to BMRCL sources, the facility was shut after the licensee allegedly failed to comply with conditions laid down in the agreement signed with the Metro authority. A BMRCL official said, “They haven’t followed the guidelines, so we had to take action. We’ve terminated the agreement with the party and they have since approached the court.”As the matter is currently in court, BMRCL declined to comment officially. Sources said a fresh tender for the space can be floated only after the legal dispute is resolved.While the plaza had emerged as a popular recreational space, some civic activists argued that public land was being excessively commercialised. “BMRCL should generate revenue through Metro operations, not by commercialising public spaces. I had written to BMRCL twice requesting that the area be developed as a street-vending zone,” said Sneha Nandiyal, a local civic activist.
