Hyderabad: Skywalk facility at a busy junction

Hyderabad, July 09: In a good news for Pedestrians, who are walking at Mythrivanam will soon have an additional facility to cross the ever-busy junction safely and comfortably with Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) deciding to construct its first skywalk in the area.

Apart from Ameerpet Interchange Station, which serves as a foot over bridge, this skywalk will help pedestrians move across the roads without any inconvenience. The 250-metre-long 'T' shape designed skywalk will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore.

HMRL has already floated tenders inviting private and other agencies to construct the structure, which will be a mix of steel and concrete. While L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited is constructing a few skywalks at different stations, this will be the first skywalk to be taken up by the HMRL.

The facility will be coming up from the concourse level of the station and gets extended towards Mythrivanam bus stop. It will split into two arms with each arm landing on either sides of the road. While one arm is designed to land at the open place just after Mythrivanam complex, the other will land close to outlets on the other side of the road, said HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy.

Given the high vehicular movement throughout the day, the junction which leads to Mumbai Highway from the city has for long been a challenge for pedestrians in crossing the road. And, once the Metro operations commence on the Ameerpet-Hitec City route, the pedestrian traffic is expected to increase considerably.

Efforts are being made to complete the construction of the skywalk within six months and agencies, which have experience in constructing such structures, will be eligible for submitting the bids.

L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited has already constructed a skywalk at Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station and works on a similar facility at Paradise station are nearing completion. These apart, skywalks will come up at Secunderabad, Malakpet, Punjagutta, Hitec City and other locations.

All the stations have been designed to facilitate construction of skywalks in the future to avoid any changes or demolition to the existing structures.