As one of the distinctly visible and integral components of public life, it is extremely difficult to ignore the various shades of colour that glare at us in myriad forms via government buildings, flyovers, road-crossings, viaducts, street railings, hospices, public transport vehicles, parks, gardens, and a host of other civic structures, teeming the urban spaces that we inhabit. As public spaces are accessible to all, the colours chosen for their representation should ideally conform to the needs and requirements of the general public rather than cater to the predilections of the ruling party or the government.

In August 2026, the iconic Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata was at the centre of controversy, as its ticket counter served as a venue for a colourful tug of war between saffron and white, triggering accusations of cultural and political arrogation by rival political parties. Such a controversy, coupled with the onslaught of blue and white of the erstwhile ruling government, automatically generates some basic pertinent queries: should colours of various public infrastructure on perpetual display be overtly used for political messaging or should the hues be determined on the basis of relevant scientific, environmental, pragmatic and other aesthetic factors?

The question is crucial as the value or choice of colour is not merely an ornamental one. On the contrary, the choice embodies a wide range of important issues including luminosity, perceptibility, heat absorption, and a host of other allied factors aligned with the urban set-up of a city. Instead of being implemented arbitrarily, colour choices in public spaces should be entrusted with a properly equipped team consisting of specialists in the field like trained urban planners, builders, colour experts, engineers, environmentalists, urban traffic and safety professionals among........

© The Statesman