Skywalk planned on MG Road for ad revenue even as others remain unused

BENGALURU: Even as skywalks across the city remain unused, the city municipal corporation is planning one smack in the middle of MG Road -all thanks to the possibility of getting ad revenue.

The skywalk will connect one side of MG road to the Rangoli Metro Art Centre (RMAC) and will not cost the palike a single rupee, according to executive engineer (road infrastructure) Basavaraj Kabade.

“The skywalk will be constructed on a PPP basis and contractors will have to recover the cost of construction from advertisements on the skywalk,“ Kabade said.

The plan, however, has not gone down well with citizens who demand that the footpath be improved first. “There is no need for a skywalk on MG Road. What people really need is a free footpath. Constructing a skywalk will only eat up more walking space,“ said traffic constable Seetharam (name changed) who has been manning the spot for the past two years.

“Moreover, most of the people who visit the arts centre do so on the weekends and use the sidewalk on the other side to get there. Building a skywalk just for them when they can use the metro station itself to cross the road is pointless,“ he added. There is more sense in constructing the skywalk at the MG RoadBrigade Road signal, said Archana Madav, a student who regularly uses the metro along the IndiranagarMG Road stretch.

“We get only 10 seconds to cross the road but even before the pedestrian signal ends, vehicles are in a hurry to get moving and so technically we get only about 5 seconds,“ she said.

“What we need is a footpath so people can spend quality time walking,“ said Meera Sera, a resident of Yelahanka and a regular visitor to MG Road. “Those who visit RMAC do it over the weekends. They are rarely in a hurry and a walk along MG Road is usually welcome,“ she said.

Staff at RMAC too slammed the idea. “There is already a zebra crossing near the station and the weekend traffic on MG Road does not warrant a skywalk,“ said a supervisor at RMAC who did not want to be named.

Vinay K Sreenivasa from the Alternative Law Forum pointed out that skywalks and underpasses are a failure in Bengaluru.

Senior citizens, the physical handicapped and pregnant women cannot use skywalks and underpasses. Authorities are pushing pedestrians out of roads. Moreover, it will be an eyesore in the middle of MG Road, he added.