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Bengaluru is planning to build eight new skywalks in various parts of the city, including Tank Bund Road, Tumkur Road near RMC Yard, Old Madras Road, and Old Airport Road near Carlton Towers. However, this decision has raised concerns among residents and urban planners, especially because many of the city’s 82 existing skywalks are either not being used or are in bad condition.
Out of the 82 skywalks, 59 were built through public-private partnerships (PPP), and 15 were funded by the government. Only four are looked after by the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike), while the rest were built by the BDA (Bangalore Development Authority). Though 64 skywalks have lifts, most of them are either not working, locked, or without electricity, making them useless for daily commuters.
Tough for Commuters
Many people find it hard to use these skywalks. Areas like Yeshwanthpur, KR Puram, and Marathahalli have skywalks with steep, uneven steps. This makes it very difficult for the elderly, people with disabilities, and even those carrying bags or children.
“Climbing those stairs every day is tiring—especially in the heat,” says Suma Ramesh, a 53-year-old woman who uses the Hebbal skywalk. “The escalators never work, and I end up with knee pain. It’s just not senior-friendly.”
Promises of Accessibility
The idea behind building these skywalks was to make roads safer and easier to cross. But broken lifts and missing escalators have turned them into a problem rather than a solution. Ganesh Gowda, a juice vendor near the Gali Anjaneya temple, says, “People just don’t use the skywalks. The lifts never work. Everyone prefers crossing the road directly.”
Under the PPP model, skywalks are supposed to include stairs, lifts, CCTV cameras, and even security guards. But in reality, many have none of these. A skywalk near Dairy Circle has both stairs and lifts, but only the stairs are working.
BBMP’s Take on the Situation
A BBMP official said that most skywalk maintenance has been handed over to private contractors, while the four maintained by BBMP directly are in good shape. Notices have been sent to those failing to meet maintenance standards.
Currently, Bengaluru has 82 skywalks with 64 lifts, but only four have working escalators. With most of them in poor condition, people are left with no choice but to cross busy roads, making daily commutes harder and riskier.
