BBMP starts work on skywalk between metro, rail stations, ignores better options

The BBMP has started work on a skywalk between Kempegowda Metro Station and the third entry to the railway station in Majestic, a facility which experts say will only benefit advertisers while inconveniencing passengers.

In August 2016, the railways wrote to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to provide safe access to the third entry of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna station.

However, the BBMP soon intervened, stating that it has already called tenders to build a skywalk. Last week, Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao performed the ground-breaking ceremony. Officials in the BBMP said the skywalk, to be built under PPP model, will be ready within five months.

Passengers, however, questioned the need for a skywalk when the existing subway in front of Metro station can be extended to the third entry. “The hassle of coming out of the Metro station and climbing onto the skywalk can be entirely avoided by extending the subway, which provides connectivity at the same level,” said Ramamurthy R, a civil engineer who regularly commutes from Kengeri to Jayanagar.

A senior BMRCL official said the five-metre underground section at the north-west corner of Kempegowda Metro station can be used to build a subway. “A box-type subway of 50-metre length can be built in a month. It seems a better option any day,” the official said.

Civic evengelist V Ravichandar said infrastructure like skywalks should be avoided at all circumstances unless they prove essential. “Ideally, a pedestrian crossing over the road prefers grade-level crossing. Forcing people with luggage to climb two levels at the city centre, when there are better options shows that convenience of pedestrians is not the priority of the BBMP,” he
said.

Activist Sanjeev Dyamannavar noted that Metro passengers already climb two or three levels up to come out of the station while railway passengers come with family carrying luggage and children. “The BBMP can extend the foot overbridge of BMTC bus station instead of building another bridge in front of Metro station, which will benefit only the advertisers. Extension of subway is the ideal solution for the problem,” they said.

For the BBMP, the moot point seems to be the expenditure. “The corporation is not spending anything on the skywalk. The private agency will build it as per the tender specifications. The cost may go up to Rs 2 crore,” an official said.