Bengaluru Traffic Police’s 101-skywalk proposal moves towards implementation
Amid the ongoing footpath clearance drive, the Bengaluru city corporations have finally initiated work on the required skywalks across the city, based on a list
Amid the ongoing footpath clearance drive, the Bengaluru city corporations have finally initiated work on the required skywalks across the city, based on a list of 101 structures proposed by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP). The plan is to align the skywalk works with the completion of the footpath clearance drive as part of the larger objective of establishing safer pedestrian infrastructure in the city. The works will also be taken up simultaneously with the footpath redevelopment project, for which the corporations will soon draw up an action plan. The development follows directions from the new Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to improve and expand pedestrian walkways in the city, following the Supreme Court’s observations on footpaths. The skywalk project will largely be based on the list that the BTP had submitted to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) earlier this year. The list of proposed skywalks features several notorious junctions, such as T.C. Palya Junction, Budigere Junction, Santhe Circle in Yelahanka, Aurobindo Junction in Jayanagar, Iblur Junction, and Jalahalli Cross. Scientific evaluation A traffic police source explained that the proposed skywalk locations were identified after considering several factors, including traffic volume, pedestrian movement, pedestrian fatalities, and the projected increase in vehicular traffic on a particular stretch.
“At the police station level, officers had already identified several locations because they monitor junctions on a daily basis. Using that intelligence, a list was prepared and later refined by comparing it with available data,” the officer explained. While this exercise resulted in identifying junctions where skywalks were urgently needed, the BTP also considered future projections, including the expected increase in traffic volume at particular junctions and the development potential of certain stretches that could generate more vehicular traffic. It also includes several locations near Metro stations, temples, tech companies, and national highways. The BTP source noted that accident blackspots and vulnerable highway stretches were also taken into consideration, leading to recommendations at different locations. Corporations to study feasibility K.N. Ramesh, Commissioner of the South City Corporation, told The Hindu that the corporation will conduct studies to assess the need for skywalks and the feasibility of implementing them and then commission the works. “In the past, there were several proposals that were junked for unknown reasons. For example, one near Vega City Mall. We will revisit those proposals and consider public opinion before commissioning the work,” he said. Pommala Sunil Kumar, Commissioner of the North City Corporation, said the works would be taken up in phases after assessing the list and conducting feasibility studies.
The BriefWire