Sandalwood actor Ramesh Bhat has voiced disappointment over the omission of actor and director Shankar Nag’s name from Bengaluru’s metro stations. Nag, a stalwart in Kannada cinema and theatre, played a pivotal role in conceptualizing Bengaluru’s metro rail system over three decades ago with a personal investment of Rs 9 lakh. His visionary efforts, tragically cut short by a fatal accident, aimed to revolutionize public transport in Bengaluru.
It has been 35 years since Shankar Nag first dreamed of bringing metro service to Bengaluru, lamented Bhat, reflecting the sentiments of many in the Kannada film industry and Nag’s admirers. Despite the metro’s inauguration 13 years ago, none of its 65 stations pay tribute to Nag’s pioneering contributions.
Bhat underscored Nag’s broader vision for Bengaluru, which encompassed not just a metro system but also envisioned amusement parks, clubs, and ropeways for the city. He aimed for lasting social impact through urban development,” Bhat highlighted.
The issue gained attention when Byrati Basavaraj, former Urban Development Minister, expressed interest in proposing Shankar Nag’s name for a metro station. However, despite generating headlines, no concrete steps have materialized towards realizing this proposal.
