Public outcry forced the city administration to halt the skywalk project at Cubbon Park-M.G. Road Junction even as residents of Bellandur have been demanding one following the death of a security guard while crossing a busy road. The protests highlighted the need for well-planned skywalks.Many skywalks are put to little use and have come under severe criticism, with demands for pelican signals instead. But BBMP wants to build at least another 75 skywalks, drawing ire from urban commute experts.
Traffic expert Professor M.N. Srihari said the problem is with the ‘one solution fits all solution’ adopted by the civic body.
“Bengaluru needs a combination of different solutions to different problems. We need a mix of skywalks, passenger crossing subways and pelican signals,” explained another urban commute expert Sanjeev V. Dyamannanavar.
Traffic police agree with the need for a more systematic solution to ensure the safety of pedestrians while crossing roads. “The location of skywalks and the facilities provided, like an elevator or an escalator, decide its success or failure. There are many skywalks at traffic signals, which will definitely fail, as pedestrians can easily cross the road when we provide time for passenger crossing,” said R. Hitendra, additional commissioner (traffic).
The skywalk at the Cubbon Park-M.G. Road junction is located at a multi-armed signal where crossing the street is not a nightmare.
However, skywalks on signal-free corridors such as ORR and Ballari Road are a necessity and a boon.
The skywalk at Manyata Tech Park on ORR is one of the most used skywalks in the city. The structure at Kempapura Junction — one of the most accident-prone junctions — is equally popular despite the fact that it does not have an elevator or escalator.
“There is no point in putting up a skywalk if we cannot eliminate a signal at the junction,” said Mr. Hitendra. “We have observed that pedestrians use skywalks only as a last option, like when we erect high medians, like on Ballari Road. All of them should have elevators or escalators.”
Mr. Dyamannanavar batted for well-planned subways as well. “One of the well-designed subways is in front of Hebbal Police Station, which is not too deep and you need to climb down just a five steps to cross the busy highway. But those in the core city, like those on Nrupatunga Road and at Basaveshwara Circle, are shabbily planned,” he said.
Involve the public in location decisions
Citizens groups and activists feel that the BBMP should open up the list of 75 skywalks it wants to build in public-private-partnership to public objections, and review them with inputs from traffic cops and urban commute experts. Three years ago, Directorate of Urban Land Transport had in their report criticised 18 of the 75 sites as unscientific.
Traffic police to put up 60 pelican signals
The city will soon have 60 pelican signals, which will help pedestrians cross busy roads. “The Bengaluru Traffic Police are in the process of identifying the locations,” said R. Hitendra, additional commissioner (traffic). “We are collating data on accident spots where pedestrians are more prone to fall prey to accidents. We will install pelican signals at these spots.”
A pilot project of a pelican signal – where pedestrians can press a button on the footpath to control traffic till they cross the road – was carried out in the city almost a decade ago at St Martha’s Hospital Junction on Nrupatunga Road, but it was not a success.
“Our people are not comfortable using pelican signals. When put up one on Nrupatunga Road, they recklessly held traffic for long periods leading to a pile up. If we are to introduce 60 pelican signals, we need to first take up an extensive awareness campaign,” said traffic expert Prof. M.N. Srihari.
Skywalks that have been a success
Manyata Tech Park, ORR
Eco Space, Bellandur, ORR
Kempapura Junction and in front of Parachute Regiment, Ballari Road
Airport Road, Marathahalli
Forum Mall, Koramangala
Skywalks that failed
K.G. Road, Majestic
Sophia High School Junction, near Chalukya circle
Jayanagar 3rd block
Near Banaswadi Main Road, ORR
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
