Bangaloreans are hardly using the skywalks built to cross the roads. However, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is going ahead with its plans to construct 120 skywalks under private public partnership (PPP) model.
“The BBMP is planning to construct 120 skywalks across the city under the PPP model. It has called tenders for 14 skywalks at various locations,” Chairman of the BBMP’s Standing Committee on Town Planning A N Purushottam told Express.
“Four tenders have been finalised and they are expected to get approval from our committee in a week,” he said. These skywalks will have lift facility.
Income from Skywalks
The civic agency has decided to construct skywalks for pedestrians where there is heavy traffic.
“Each flyover will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore. We will not spend a single rupee on this project. In fact, BBMP will earn Rs 5 lakh per year from rent and also advertisement tax from private companies,” he said. Private companies are allowed to put hoardings on the bridge, he added.
Meanwhile, urban planning expert V Ravichander has questioned the need to build so many skywalks as people are hardly using the seven existing skywalks.
“There is no need for 120 skywalks that too when the existing ones are under utilised. Pedestrians should be given prominence. They should be provided with a safe surface level facility to cross roads,” he said.
“Skywalks should not be constructed for the sake of advertisements and hoardings,” Ravichander observed.