Mangaluru: Yakshagana motifs could well adorn the walls of Mangaluru Central railway station soon. This 110-year old railway station that once connected this coastal city to Peshawar with the Grand Trunk Express, is already crying for fresh coat of paint and the competition announced by the Railway Board for beautification of railway stations with participation of local artists is only set to expedite this process.

A missive sent by Anish Kumar, director, SD, Railway Board, to the general managers for all zonal railways, copy of which is available with, states that Railway is making effort to beautify stations all over India with wall art painting and graffiti carrying social messages. This, Anish said, is part of an unique attempt to combine cleanliness and creativity. All this will culminate in a competition where the top three artists will receive prizes from the railway minister, he said.

Gopinath, public relations officer of Palakkad division, told that the division has already initiated the process at Palakkad junction and Kozhikkode railway stations. While the division dipped into its funds to come up with mural paintings at Palakkad junction, voluntary agencies have joined hands in this station beautification programme at Kozhikkode, Gopinath said, adding the division that has 95 railway stations will take up this work in more stations.

At Ottapalam, Nehru College of Architecture there has come forward to beautify the station, Gopinath said, adding local artists and organisations interested in this initiative may get in touch with the divisional headquarters at Palakkad.

“In Mangaluru, the beautification programme will be initiated soon after the station gets fresh coat of paint,” he said, adding the division is keen to feature motifs and paintings of local art and tradition to give commuting passengers, a slice of local culture and also help promote local tourism opportunities that await people.