Bengaluru Traffic Police’s 101-skywalk proposal moves towards implementation

Amid the ongoing footpath clearance drive, the Bengaluru city corporations have finally initiated work on the required skywalks across the city, based on a list of 101 structures proposed by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP).

The plan is to align the skywalk works with the completion of the footpath clearance drive as part of the larger objective of establishing safer pedestrian infrastructure in the city. The works will also be taken up simultaneously with the footpath redevelopment project, for which the corporations will soon draw up an action plan.

The development follows directions from the new Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to improve and expand pedestrian walkways in the city, following the Supreme Court’s observations on footpaths.

The skywalk project will largely be based on the list that the BTP had submitted to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) earlier this year.

The list of proposed skywalks features several notorious junctions, such as T.C. Palya Junction, Budigere Junction, Santhe Circle in Yelahanka, Aurobindo Junction in Jayanagar, Iblur Junction, and Jalahalli Cross.

Scientific evaluation

A traffic police source explained that the proposed skywalk locations were identified after considering several factors, including traffic volume, pedestrian movement, pedestrian fatalities, and the projected increase in vehicular traffic on a particular stretch.

“At the police station level, officers had already identified several locations because they monitor junctions on a daily basis. Using that intelligence, a list was prepared and later refined by comparing it with available data,” the officer explained.

While this exercise resulted in identifying junctions where skywalks were urgently needed, the BTP also considered future projections, including the expected increase in traffic volume at particular junctions and the development potential of certain stretches that could generate more vehicular traffic.

It also includes several locations near Metro stations, temples, tech companies, and national highways.

The BTP source noted that accident blackspots and vulnerable highway stretches were also taken into consideration, leading to recommendations at different locations.

Corporations to study feasibility

K.N. Ramesh, Commissioner of the South City Corporation, told The Hindu that the corporation will conduct studies to assess the need for skywalks and the feasibility of implementing them and then commission the works.

“In the past, there were several proposals that were junked for unknown reasons. For example, one near Vega City Mall. We will revisit those proposals and consider public opinion before commissioning the work,” he said.

Pommala Sunil Kumar, Commissioner of the North City Corporation, said the works would be taken up in phases after assessing the list and conducting feasibility studies.

The East City Corporation, the richest among the city’s five civic bodies, will explore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding and partnerships with private companies to execute the works, according to Lokhande Snehal Sudhakar, additional commissioner of the East City Corporation.

Work on the ground is expected to begin after about three months.

Traffic breather too

However, many skywalks in the city remain underutilised. A traffic police officer said that the proposed locations are in urgent need of pedestrian infrastructure, making the skywalks likely to be well utilised. Wherever necessary, the BTP will urge pedestrians to use the skywalks once the project is implemented.

According to BTP officials, the skywalks will also help decongest several junctions. For example, at Iblur Junction, there is already a skywalk connecting Sarjapur Main Road to the centre of the junction. However, pedestrians who need to cross towards the Iblur Lake side still depend on traffic police to halt vehicular movement and assist them in crossing the road.

“Every time we stop vehicle movement, the traffic congestion increases because peak-hour traffic on the Outer Ring Road is almost always bumper-to-bumper. Extending the existing skywalk would ensure seamless traffic movement at the junction,” the official explained.

Another example is Aurobindo Junction, where traffic from the newly opened double-decker downramp descends. During peak hours, police have to prioritise pedestrian crossings also, which briefly disrupts vehicular movement. According to BTP officials, a skywalk at the junction would ensure both pedestrian safety and smoother traffic flow.

Box

Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament for Bangalore South, has written to Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, urging him to prioritise the construction of a skywalk at Banashankari Junction instead of a grade separator.

The development comes days after B-SMILE revealed its plan to construct a grade separator at the junction, creating uncertainty over the proposed pedestrian infrastructure.

Mr. Surya cited figures to emphasise the need for a skywalk, stating that pedestrian volume at the junction exceeds 7,000 people per hour. He noted that the skywalk proposal has already been approved and is close to the implementation stage and therefore should be prioritised.