JOIN US A second round of meeting was held between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Columbia Asia Hospital on Saturday to discuss the progress on the proposal to construct a skywalk at Esteem Mall junction Hebbal on Ballari Road.
While the meeting went off smoothly, there were some objections over the display of advertisements on the skywalk, once the project is completed. Columbia Hospital has come forward to bear the cost of the skywalk construction.
According to sources in the Palike, the NHAI reportedly sought clarification from Hospital authorities over the display of advertisements, height of hoardings and their maintenance.
A Palike official said: “The hospital will take up the construction of skywalk at the total cost of Rs 2.5 crore. The hospital authorities, during the discussion, said that they want to put up advertisement hoardings on the skywalk. However, the NHAI was not too keen on this and asked how the hospital would maintain them once they are put up.”
Hence, the NHAI has sought more clarification about this from the hospital. During the meeting, the design of the skywalk and how to go about it was also discussed.
According to sources, the detailed project report including the design of the skywalk has been handed over by the hospital to a private firm. “The work will begin once the DPR is ready. The BBMP will take up road widening along the Kempapura Junction near Esteem Mall, the stretch does not belong to NHAI. The NHAI will act as a regulatory body,” a source informed.
Mayor N Shanthakumari, who had earlier visited the Esteem Mall Junction where the skywalk is proposed to come, said that the Palike will not interfere with the issue on advertisement as the NHAI was the authority on the matter.