The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) has recommended skywalks or foot overbridges in multiple points in the city.
The recommendations find a place in a report on the pedestrian friendly urban public transport for Kochi drawn up by NATPAC at the instance of the State Town Planning Department.
“We have recommended a skywalk between the High Court jetty and the proposed Metro station at the Madhava Pharmacy with ramping at Saritha theatre and St. Albert’s College. The construction of a one-kilometre-long skywalk costs about Rs. 40 crore. This particular stretch comes to about 0.60 kilometre and can be set up at an investment of Rs. 30 crore,” T. Elangovan, scientist-G and head of Traffic and Transportation Division of NATPAC, told The Hindu on the sidelines of a seminar on the role of development authorities in city planning and development organised by the Greater Cochin Development Authority here on Wednesday.
NATPAC had also considered a skywalk between Ernakulam boat jetty and the Maharajas College ground metro station. But the Hospital Road was found too narrow to accommodate a pillar for the proposed skywalk. It was found advisable to defer it for the future if and when land acquisition becomes possible, he said.
In addition to that, skywalks have been proposed between the North and the metro station at Lissie, Kaloor bus stand and Kaloor metro station and the Vyttila junction. “Crossing the Vyttila junction at peak time can take up to ten minutes during peak hours. A skywalk is the best option to facilitate easy crossing and access to Vytilla mobility hub and the nearby metro station,” Mr. Elangovan said.
The NATPAC study covered the central business district of the city, five major travel corridors, 16 minor roads, and 24 intersections thereof.
