Six skywalks will come up across the city in a month’s time while 15 more will come up in phases.
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had floated tenders for building 100 skywalks on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model despite being criticised for the existing skywalks that have been found wanting. However, BBMP officials say the absence of lifts or escalators at these skywalks have rendered them virtually useless.
So, taking a cue from the K.G. Road skywalk that is equipped with an elevator, all the new skywalks are to be provided with a lift.
The new skywalks that are coming up are mountable metallic bridges that can be relocated to any spot depending upon the user pattern and traffic density.
The skywalks are to be built on design, build, own, operate and transfer basis by private investors, who pay ground rent to the BBMP. Once the work is complete, they earn by way of getting business groups to advertise on the structure of the skywalk.
BBMP has issued work orders for six such skywalks. While those near the Indian Air Force ASC Centre and Christ College are almost complete, work has begun on skywalks near HAL Airport Road at Marathahalli and on Hosur Road opposite the Forum Mall near Tavarekere. And, work is yet to start on those on Domlur Inner Ring Road near Embassy Golf Link and on Palace Road near Mount Carmel College in Vasanth Nagar.
Basavaraj Kabade, Exeecutive Engineer at Traffic Engineering Cell, BBMP, said construction of six skywalks would be completed in a month. BBMP has given its approval for construction of 15 more skywalks for which work orders will soon be issued.
B. Dayananda, Additional Commissioner (Traffic), said that though all efforts were being made to make skywalks user-friendly, it was more of a commuter culture that decides its effective use. He hoped that the new skywalks with lifts would motivate people use them.
