BENGALURU: Vasanthnagar residents have opposed the construction of a skywalk from planetarium to military park, terming it as a project with zero utility.
The skywalk construction was stopped in February 2017 following public protest but the works have now started again, said residents.
After the steel flyover construction plan was dropped following the massive protests, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George had in March said that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika (BBMP) would construct 100 skywalks across the city for the benefit of pedestrians.
But a resident of Vasanthnagar said, “This skywalk is clearly meant for advertising purposes. It is unaesthetic and serves no purpose, except as a perfect advertising opportunity for vehicles. I have personally checked and no one would use it as hardly anyone crosses the road at the point, except a few families during school holidays.
“Even if they do, this is a one way road and a 120 second traffic signal delay, which allows for an easy crossover at the time, using the road itself.”
Raj Kumar Dugar, general secretary of Vasanthnagar Residents Welfare Association said, “It’s redundant as its an easily crossable one way road, with a pedestrian crossing with less than 75 metres away, two shut, unused subways less than 200 metres away and a Sophia School skywalk nearly 200 metres away that no one uses. Why do we need one more?”
“Three trees were chopped to make way for this idiocy and more will be ‘trimmed’ (cut to only the trunk) as inconvenient branches get in the way of a ripe commercial advertisement opportunity,” he added.
The residents have taken the protests online where many have opposed the skywalk project.
BBMP Road Engineering Department Chief Prahlad said,“I believe that it is wrong to say that we are building skywalks for the commercial advertisement purpose. The existing skywalks doesnt have the facility of elevators. The present project will have that facility and in time we will demolish old skywalk which is existing. We have got requests from public and education institutions for the construction of skywalk. The decision has been made consciously.”