Sophisticated skywalk to come up at Domlur

A skywalk with an escalator, an elevator and perhaps even a café on the Inner Ring Road in Domlur may not be far from becoming a reality if the Palike allows the Embassy Property Developers to have its way.

The design and plan for the skywalk, set to come up opposite Dell India office on the Inner Ring Road, was presented by Embassy Property Developers before a few officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike at Hotel Leela Palace on December 28.

The Rs 5.5-crore project, to be entirely funded by the private builder, also includes beautification of the area beneath the Domlur flyover into a garden-cum-recreation space at a cost of Rs 3 crore. The skywalk will have an escalator and an elevator on both sides of the structure that will provide access to the top, apart from a spiralling emergency staircase.

Amit Ahuja, Manager (Corporate Affairs), Embassy Developers, told Deccan Herald that a Singapore-based firm had been chosen to implement the design of the project.
“The entire cost of the project will be borne by us and the BBMP has no role to play in it. This will make it easy for the Palike to allow the project,” said Amit.

Part of the project involves planting 12 different varieties of trees. The landscape design concept submitted by the Embassy group shows a parking space for 30 vehicles, entry-exit gates, sculptures, bridge-over-nala, water features, lawn and recreation spaces.

However, the bone of contention between the BBMP and Embassy is the advertisement rights and a few other trivial issues.

B T Ramesh, engineer-in-chief, BBMP, said: “While Embassy wants a minimum 10-year advertisement rights on the hoardings on the skywalk, the BBMP is yet to accept the proposal. The Palike is figuring out if it can do so on a revenue-sharing basis.”

Officials in the BBMP claim one faction is strongly opposed to the idea of escalators for skywalks. They feel such structures will pose risks to users — senior citizens slipping and falling while climbing; and saris, skirts and lungis getting stuck in the escalator.
Domlur corporator Geeta Srinivas Reddy says projects, which beautify the area and help pedestrians and residents, should be encouraged.

“I was very keen on implementing this project in Domlur. Now, all that remains to be solved is the ad rights, which the BBMP will have to decide in one of the council meetings,” said Geeta.

The corporator feels the Palike should relax rules for private firms which come forward to build such projects for the benefit of the people.

According to Embassy, the project will be completed in about seven months once the BBMP gives it the green signal.