Vidhana Soudha model centre of attraction at annual Lalbagh flower show

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday inaugurated the Independence Day flower show at the Lalbagh glass house. The flower show has been put up at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore using tons of flowers.

The CM inaugurated the flower show by showering flowers on a statue of Kengal Hanumanthaiah, the second chief minister of the state. The grandson of Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Sripad, was also present alongside.

Speaking on the occasion, Siddaramaiah said, “This is the 214th flower show being organised by the Horticulture Department. It will be on till August 15 and is themed on the builder of the Vidhana Soudha, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, who acquired 40 acres of land for Lalbagh and later expanded to 140 acres”.

The main attractions this year are the models of the Vidhana Soudha, Satyagraha Soudha, Mysuru central jail, a Karnataka map and Kannada alphabets created with flowers. The Horticulture Department has procured flowers from Kolkata, Chennai and other cities to put up the colourful exhibits.

Varieties of flowers including roses, anthurium, gerbera, orchids, red hat pokers have been used to create the exhibits. The main attraction, the Vidhana Soudha model, measures 36 feet long, 18 feet wide and is 18 feet tall and 60 lakh flowers have been used to create it. Stress has been given to local varieties of flowers and seven lakh flowers were grown in the Lalbagh nursery itself. About 13-15 lakh flowers have been used to create the exhibits.

Entry will be free for schoolchildren and competition for children will also be organised. Entry for adults is Rs 70 and for children, Rs 30. Parking arrangements have also been made and the Horticulture Department has urged visitors to prefer public transport like BMTC buses and Namma Metro services.

For security purposes, 200 CCTV cameras have been installed and a health care centre has also been opened. Two ambulances have been stationed there while shelters have been created for women.