Category: Uncategorized

Idols of Arun Yogiraj from Mysuru and Bhat are among the three shortlisted for installation in Ayodhya.

Ganesh Bhat, a Bengaluru-based sculptor, whose Bala Rama idol has been shortlisted for installation at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, has his roots in Idagunji of Honnavar taluk of Uttara Kannada district.

Idols of Arun Yogiraj from Mysuru and Bhat are among the three shortlisted for installation in Ayodhya. Although Yogiraj’s idol is said to have been finalised for consecration on January 22, it is yet to be officially confirmed..

Bhat hails from the family of priests of Idagunji Ganapathi Temple, which is considered as the oldest Ganapathi temple in the country. “I never expected an offer to carve the idol of Bala Rama. I was at a wedding in Idagunji when I got a call from Ram Mandir Trust. I was asked whether I can make an idol of Lord Ram. It was a big surprise. I readily agreed as it is a pride and honour for any sculptor,” he said.

Accordingly, he along with his assistants went to Ayodhya, where they were told to maintain secrecy of their work. Once he was asked to work on the idol, he selected a Shyama shila from the outskirts of Heggadadevanakote in Mysuru district. “Shyama shila is a natural stone. It will be soft inside the earth and after extraction, it becomes hard and ideal for carving. Usually, temple idols are made of this stone,” Bhat said.

“Our challenge was to create an unknown image of Bala Rama. We studied various Shilpa shastras. We adopted almost all types of art forms right from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari. Sitting on a lotus, this monolith statue has Shiva, Brahma, Bala Hanuman, weapons of Vishnu, and Surya around it. In this form, the idol gives voluminous information about Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu. The Sun represents his dynasty,” Bhat said.

He said that his team of eight people took seven months to carve the 7.4-foot idol. Bipin Singh Baduria, a sculptor from Uttar Pradesh who has made Karnataka his home now, and Sandeep Naik, a sculptor from Idagunji, are part of his team.

Bhat has carved over 2,000 statues, which have been consecrated in temples not only in India, but also abroad. He has been honoured with national and international awards for his works.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Longest U-Girder in India Prepared for Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project.

To speed up the most awaited Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, the engineering team will use 31-metre-long U-grinder that helps to build tracks immediately. U-grinders are generally used in the construction of metro tracks and for the first time in the country, 31-metre-long U-grinders are being roped in for a public transport project.

Karnataka Industries and Commerce minister MB Patil took to social media and wrote, “A 31-meter U-girder, the longest in India, has been prepared for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project’s Corridor-2, surpassing the previous 28-meter record. This girder, among 450 others, will soon be installed between Yeshwantpur and Hebbal, under K-Ride’s management.”

What is a U-grinder?

U-grinders are U-shaped grinders that are used in the construction of public transport projects across the globe. Due to the length of these U-grinders, the construction time and number of piers used as the foundation gradually come down, which eventually helps the companies meet the deadlines. Each U-shaped grinder weighs more than 170 tons, and high-capacity cranes are used to cast these U-grinders.

Earlier in July, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya reviewed the Bengaluru suburban rail project and suggested the Karnataka government to extend the project till Tumakuru, Ramanagara and Chikkaballapur. He also requested railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to approve the expansion plan of Bengaluru’s suburban rail network.

In June, the Karnataka government directed the Rail Infrastructure Development Company of Karnataka (K-RIDE) to submit a revised plan of the project. According to the department, the suburban rail project will be extended to Mysuru, Gauribidanur – Hindupur and Kolar areas. MB Patil then said that the long-awaited suburban rail project will be a game changer in dealing with traffic congestion of Bengaluru. With the extensions, the surrounding districts of Bengaluru are likely to see ease of transport to the capital city.

However, the Karnataka government said that the project will be finished by 2028 and they will meet the deadline. Speaking to reporters earlier, MB Patil said, “To my knowledge, the suburban rail works will be completed by 2026. But if there are any delays, it will be finished by 2028. I have directed the officials to meet the deadlines and do not delay any work. Within the next two years, the works at Chikkabanavara and Bennaganahalli lines will be finished.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)