Bengaluru Skywalk connecting Yeshwantpur Metro, railway stations yet to take off

Metro is keen on railways sharing the construction cost of the facility which is expected to cost around D1 crore
The proposed skywalk was aimed at connecting Platform 6 of Yeshwantpur railway station with the ‘E’ entarance of Metro station | Vinod Kumar.T
The proposed skywalk was aimed at connecting Platform 6 of Yeshwantpur railway station with the ‘E’ entarance of Metro station | Vinod Kumar.T

BENGALURU: Owing to an ongoing funding tussle between Namma Metro and the Railways, a skywalk proposed nearly three years ago to connect the Yeshwantpur Metro station with the railway station just across is just not taking off.
The skywalk running roughly 400m in length is expected to cost around `1 crore. The plan was to connect the two stations in a manner similar to what has been done at Baiyappanahalli. With many long-distance trains commencing from Yeshwantpur, the move will benefit passengers opting to use the Metro service to reach the station.    

Since the skywalk will be used by commuters of both Metro and Railways, Metro is keen that Railways share the cost. However, Railways feels the need for such a skywalk arose only after Metro came up and it is up to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to bear the cost.
Services commenced along the Green line of Reach 3 and 3A section between Yeshwantpur and Mantri Square Sampige Metro station on March 1, 2014. The skywalk proposed on the Tumkur Road side was aimed at connecting Platform 6 of Yeshwantpur railway station with the ‘E’ entrance of Metro station.

A top railway official told Express, “The rules are quite clear on this matter. Whenever a second government agency creates a new infrastructure project at any specific place and any public amenity needs to be created for that, the onus is on the new entrant to bear the costs of the project.”
Metro feels the need for it and it needs to be ready to fund it, he added.
“Why should Railways bear the cost for something that Metro requires?” he asks.
Phase-I of Metro was built at a cost of `13,500 crore while Phase-II will be completed at a cost of `26,500 crore.  Pradeep Singh Kharola, BMRCL Managing Director, said, “We are in talks with the Railways in this connection.”

With no escalator provided by Metro at the ‘E’ entrance, commuters need to climb down a flight of stairs from the Metro side and climb another flight of stairs to enter the Yeshwantpur station.
A majority of commuters who use both the modes of transport are keen on the proposed skywalk. A few, mostly the younger crowd, said they did not mind the short walk.
Shivakumar S Police Patil, who was spotted rushing to Yeshwantpur station, said, “A connecting bridge is definitely required to make commuting to the railway station comfortable for all of us.”
Puttapa Vir Shetty heading to Bidar, after reaching Yeshwantpur Metro station from Jalahalli Cross, said, “Of course, connecting the two stations will make it easy for us.”

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