Skywalk escalators to be monitored online

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has planned to launch online monitoring of lifts and escalators on skywalks to check if pedestrians are using skywalks.

Unfazed by the opposition to skywalks, the Palike has been coming up with more such projects in various parts of the city. To counter arguments that these structures would only serve the interests of advertisers rather than helping pedestrians, the BBMP fitted them with lifts and escalators.

The decision to install monitoring devices was taken during a high-level coordination committee meeting headed by Chief Secretary T M Vijayabhaskar on Tuesday. Sources in the BBMP revealed to DH that the civic body, in association with Bosch Technologies under the PPP model has decided to install online monitoring devices on as many as 25 skywalks that are fitted with escalators in various parts of the central business district of Bengaluru.

According to a top official who was part of the meeting, the devices will not only help monitor the condition of skywalks and escalators but also help motivate more and more pedestrians to use skywalks in the coming days. The skywalks can be monitored from a central location and any glitch can be spotted and attended to immediately.

Though Bosch officials requested that the installation of devices be taken up towards the end of June, Vijay Bhaskar reportedly directed officials to install these devices by the end of May.

Sources in BBMP clarified that the move was mooted following several complaints that pedestrians were not using escalators fitted with skywalks and that some escalators were out of action due to technical glitches. “The devices will also help us in taking precautionary measures for the safety of pedestrians,” the sources said.

A senior engineer of the Road Infrastructure wing of BBMP said, “This initiative is being taken up to ensure the safety of pedestrians. This vigilance will motivate a large number of pedestrians to use skywalks instead of crossing the busy roads. Currently, 25 skywalks will be equipped with these devices.”

BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad said, “Lifts and escalators at skywalks were installed to facilitate the movement of pedestrians. They are operational from 6 am to 10 pm on all days. The online monitoring devices will help keep track their functioning and misuse.” The commissioner added, “Our engineering team is presently working on it. It will take a few days for them to get the project work ready and install the systems.”