HOT TOPICS
SPOTLIGHT AGENCIES
Sophisticated Skywalk at Domlur
Written By Naveen - 3 January, 2012
Bangalore Crossings Media Reports Skywalks Pedestrians
A skywalk with an escalator, an elevator and perhaps even a café on the Inner Ring Road in Domlur may not be far from becoming a reality if the Palike allows the Embassy Property Developers to have its way.
The design and plan for the skywalk, set to come up opposite Dell India office on the Inner Ring Road, was presented by Embassy Property Developers before a few officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike at Hotel Leela Palace on December 28.
The Rs 5.5-crore project, to be entirely funded by the private builder, also includes beautification of the area beneath the Domlur flyover into a garden-cum-recreation space at a cost of Rs 3 crore. The skywalk will have an escalator and an elevator on both sides of the structure that will provide access to the top, apart from a spiralling emergency staircase.
Part of the project involves planting 12 different varieties of trees. The landscape design concept submitted by the Embassy group shows a parking space for 30 vehicles, entry-exit gates, sculptures, bridge-overnala, water features, lawn and recreation spaces.
However, the bone of contention between the BBMP and Embassy is the advertisement rights and a few other trivial issues.
T Ramesh, engineer-inchief, BBMP, said: “While Embassy wants a minimum 10year advertisement rights on thehoardings on the skywalk, theBBMP is yet to accept the proposal.The Palike is figuring outif it can do so on a revenuesharing basis.” Officials in the BBMP claim one faction is strongly opposed to the idea of escalators for skywalks. They feel such structures will pose risks to users — senior citizens slipping and falling while climbing; and saris, skirts and lungis getting stuck in the escalator.
Much needed at that location due to very high pedestrian density !
COMMENTS
dvsquare - 3 January, 2012 - 05:11
Good start for the new year, lets see how it goes on further.
Deepak
idontspam - 3 January, 2012 - 05:08
Good move
Officials in the BBMP claim one faction is strongly opposed to the idea of escalators for skywalks.
They have to travel to Delhi where escalator skywalks are common. They could alternately try the flat travelator type without steps. BTW they should ban escalators in malls also if safety is their concern.
murali772 - 3 January, 2012 - 10:08
The Palike is figuring out if it can do so on a revenue-sharing basis.
When somebody comes up with an innovative plan, which can help solve many long pending issues, it's high time the government agencies involved helped implement them, where required by forgoing some of the revenue that would have accrued if they had gone strictly by the book. The current revenue-oriented approach of the government is invariably the cause of many a good plan not getting implemented.
The irony is that, even as they pursue this revenue-oriented approach in such cases on the one hand, on the other, revenue leakages have turned into literal floods in many other areas, like in the case of property taxes.
More often however is also the "what's in it for me?" factor of the various babu-neta combo's involved.
Everything, eventually points to is the need for a visionary outlook on the part of the neta's, which can perhaps happen with a directly elected Mayor envisaged under the City Governance bill.
psaram42 - 3 January, 2012 - 12:27
Well said Murali sir. The Indiranagar Sky walk is a standing monument. Great advertising platform for companies. Hardly any body uses it to sky walk. People prefer to cross on the ground.
Even with an escalater people may tend to optimize on least crossing time.
Our Netas are visionery in making quick money. Wish that the long pending electoral reforms do take place fast. We seem to be stuck with the Lok pal bill.
idontspam - 3 January, 2012 - 17:43
Hardly any body uses it to sky walk. People prefer to cross on the ground
Because that place is not wide enough for a skywalk, a 6 lane divided carriage way like IRR is more appropriate place for a skywalk, ring road & highways are appropriate places as well, not other city streets.
PRAJA.IN COMMENT GUIDELINES
Posting Guidelines apply for comments as well. No foul language, hate mongering or personal attacks. If criticizing third person or an authority, you must be fact based, as constructive as possible, and use gentle words. Avoid going off-topic no matter how nice your comment is. Moderators reserve the right to either edit or simply delete comments that don't meet these guidelines. If you are nice enough to realize you violated the guidelines, please save Moderators some time by editing and fixing yourself. Thanks!