Chhani’s iconic Vad sculpture obscured by wild vegetation

Vadodara: The iconic Vad sculpture at Chhani Jakatnaka Circle has been overshadowed by trees and plants growing inside the circle.For over a year, the circle has been in a state of neglect even as the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has now started the process of decreasing the size of the circle to facilitate traffic movement.

The ‘Vad’ or banyan sculpture was made by master sculptor Nagji Patel as a landmark for the city that derives its name from the banyan tree. It was installed in Fatehgunj and the circle itself came to be popularly called Vad Circle.However, there was a controversy regarding the sculpture in 2015 when a flyover was being constructed over it. It was eventually shifted to its present location at Chhani Jakatnaka Circle.Sources said that till last year, the Chhani Jakatnaka circle’s landscaping and other maintenance was being done regularly by Reliance Industries Ltd. However, the VMC came up with the policy of inviting offers from persons willing to take up circles in the city and the civic body took possession of the Vad circle.Till now, the VMC has not been able to zero down on a firm to maintain the circle.VMC executive engineer Rajesh Chauhan said that VMC was looking to charge royalty from companies that take up circles and were inviting offers. He said two offers had been received for Jakatnaka Circle and that VMC would select one soon.