Bengaluru plans 8 more skywalks despite existing ones underutilised

Bengaluru: At a time when most of Bengaluru’s existing skywalks lie underutilised and poorly maintained, the city is forging ahead with plans to construct eight more at locations, including Tank Bund Road, Tumkur Road near RMC Yard, Old Madras Road, and Old Airport Road near Carlton Towers.

The move has sparked concerns among citizens and urban experts alike, who point to the dismal condition of the existing 82 skywalks — many of which remain inaccessible, non-functional, or simply ignored.A closer look reveals that of the 82 skywalks dotting the cityscape, 59 were developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model and 15 using govt grants. Only four fall under the direct maintenance of BBMP, while others are constructed by BDA.

While 64 of these skywalks are equipped with lifts, most of them are out of order, often locked, broken, or missing electricity connections.Only four skywalks across the entire city have escalators. This is shockingly low given Bengaluru’s senior citizen population and the general weariness of pedestrians navigating the city’s chaotic roads. Even worse, most of these escalators are non-functional.“Climbing the stairs every day is extremely irritating, especially in summer.

What’s the point of building skywalks if the escalators are always under repair?” asks Suma Ramesh, a 53-year-old commuter who uses the Hebbal skywalk daily to get to work. “It’s a nightmare for older people like me. I end up with knee pain every time.”Commuters at key locations like Yeshwanthpur, KR Pura, and Marathahalli echo similar frustrations. The stairs, often steep and uneven, deter the elderly and physically challenged.

Many pedestrians prefer to dart across the roads instead, despite heavy traffic and risks.Even the promise of accessibility has fallen flat. With non-working lifts and escalators, these so-called “smart skywalks” fail the very people they were meant to serve — women with children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.“Maintenance is the missing piece in all of these skywalks. The one near the Gali Anjaneya temple barely has people using it.

The lifts don’t work at all. People prefer crossing the road to climbing stairs and then walking a certain distance and then getting down again when they can just show their hand to the motorists and cross the road,” said Ganesh Gowda, a juice vendor at the junction. The skywalk built under the PPP model is supposed to have a staircase, a lift, a CC camera, and a watchman, but when TOI did a reality check, there was no security, and the lifts were dysfunctional.Another skywalk near Dairy Circle has a staircase and lifts, but the lifts are closed and are not functional. People are forced to climb the stairs and cross the roads because of the dysfunctional lifts. Another user of the skywalk, Ravindra Rao, 68, a retired banker from Jayanagar, said, “These skywalks are supposed to help senior citizens like me, but we’re the ones struggling the most. The lifts are either locked or dead.

I now cross the road like before — it’s dangerous, but what choice do I have?” The residents want BBMP to focus on improving the conditions of the skywalks.A senior BBMP official said, “We have given the maintenance to private agencies and only the four that are under our control are monitored by us, and they are in a good shape. We have sent notices to many who aren’t maintaining the skywalks properly.”——What city currently hasTotal number of skywalks – 82Skywalks with lifts – 64Skywalks with escalators – 4Skywalks with staircases – 14