Hudson Circle to get longest skywalk in Bengaluru in 12 months
Bengaluru: In a pedestrian-friendly move, BBMP is set to fast-track a long-pending skywalk project at Hudson Circle — a major traffic hub where five busy roads intersect — providing much-needed relief to walkers commuting between Cubbon Park and BBMP head office.The stretch reports a traffic density of nearly 35,000 PCUs (passenger car units) per hour, making the junction one of the busiest in CBD and quite challenging for pedestrians to walk across.
At 150 metres long, the skywalk — once ready — will be the longest in Bengaluru.Originally approved in Dec 2017 by then BBMP Council and its engineering team, the project was stalled due to multiple reasons: Disputes with local elected representatives, design complications, traffic management concerns, lack of a comprehensive pedestrian study, and disruptions caused by Covid-19 pandemic. It wasn't until 2023 that BBMP's engineer-in-chief revived the project and greenlighted it.The proposed skywalk will begin on Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road, pass over Kasturba Road, connect to Vokkaligara Sangha Bhavan and finally lead towards BBMP headquarters near Hudson Circle, more popular as Corporation Circle."This skywalk is primarily meant to ease the movement of pedestrians walking from Cubbon Park to the corporation and further towards Lalbagh," said a senior BBMP official. "The structures are modular and makeshift in nature, and the work will be completed very soon. It is being undertaken under PPP model."The official added, "The primary reason for the delay was multiple infrastructure projects were being undertaken by BBMP — elevated corridor and white-topping, among others. Due to this, the skywalk project could not take off." The project is likely to be completed in 12 months.The stretch is heavily used by office-goers, tourists, and daily walkers — many of whom struggle to cross the busy intersections safely. "Crossing the road near Kasturba Road is a nightmare. Vehicles rarely stop, and there's no proper signal for pedestrians. I've seen elderly people and children stranded midway," said Nayana S, a daily commuter who works for a private firm on Mission Road."During peak hours, walking from Cubbon Park to Corporation Circle feels like an obstacle course. I hope the skywalk makes it easier -- and safer," added Sharath Kumar, a civil-service aspirant, who frequents the State Library. He added, "The skywalk will be beneficial if it has escalators. Else, people will find it strenuous to climb the stairs and then walk. They might again feel like crossing the roads instead of using the skywalks."
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