The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s new skywalk project across Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road at a spot where there is hardly any footfall, has raised many eyebrows.
The skywalk, connecting Sampangiramnagar and Kanteerava Stadium, planned under a public-private partnership model, will be installed by the end of this month.
Interestingly, the four-lane road is dotted with commercial establishments on one side while the Kanteerava Stadium is located on the other. “We hardly see people crossing the road. The skywalk is a sheer waste of public money. The road through the stadium is not a thoroughfare and always closed for public. Further, people have no business along the stretch as it is fenced,” revealed Syed Pasha, a resident of Sampangiramnagar.
Pasha added, “Vehicles stop here every two minutes, allowing pedestrians to cross easily.” Ashwini Kashyap, a student and a local resident said, “Even during traffic jams, people can easily cross the road. If it was a two-way road and had a road divider, then the skywalk would have made sense. But why would people cross to the stadium side when they can walk on this side of the road?”
BBMP officials defend the project saying the skywalk would allow many athletes staying in Sampangiramnagar to cross the road to reach the stadium. Somashekar S, chief engineer, BBMP road infrastructure said, “Pedestrian safety is our motto. We have seen people risking their lives while crossing the road during events at the stadium.” The stadium hosts mega sporting events only occasionally.
Asked if the BBMP hopes to get the required footfall, he said, “I am confident that this will be used to the optimum. We can generate ad revenues from it. There is no hidden agenda in this project.”