While Bengaluru struggles with 82 underused and poorly maintained skywalks, the city is pushing ahead with plans to construct eight more at key locations, including Tank Bund Road, Tumkur Road, Old Madras Road, and near Carlton Towers on Old Airport Road.
Urban planners and citizens are raising red flags. Of the 82 existing skywalks, 64 have lifts, but most are non-functional—locked, broken, or lacking electricity. Only four skywalks have escalators, and even these are frequently out of service, making them inaccessible to senior citizens, the physically challenged, and parents with young children.
Commuters like Suma Ramesh, who uses the Hebbal skywalk, say the steep stairs are exhausting, especially during summer. “It defeats the purpose,” she says. Ravindra Rao, 68, adds, “The lifts are always dead. I risk crossing the road because I have no alternative.”
Most skywalks were built under public-private partnerships (59) or with government grants (15). Only four are maintained directly by BBMP, which a senior official claims are in good condition. The rest, built by the BDA, are left to private agencies for upkeep—often without results.
Even in high-traffic areas like Yeshwanthpur, KR Pura, and Marathahalli, pedestrians prefer crossing dangerous roads to using malfunctioning skywalks. Vendors nearby report minimal usage due to disrepair, lack of surveillance, and absence of security.
Citizens demand BBMP prioritize fixing existing infrastructure before adding more. Without proper upkeep, Bengaluru’s skywalks remain “smart” only in name, failing the very people they’re meant to protect.
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