Hyderabad Metro Rail to build 200 skywalks

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metro Rail will construct 200 skywalks along the 72-km Metro route. As per Indian Road Congress Standards, at least 5.5m height is required for vehicles to pass. Since the viaducts have 8-9m clearance, the HMR will construct skywalks that will directly connect important schools, colleges, government buildings, hospital and other frequently visited buildings. 

MD of HMR N.V.S.S. Reddy said, “The aim is to redesign the city; there are 200 metros across the world built as mere engineering structures. They have no soul. The aim is to make the Metro a people-friendly project by involving segments of the city. The concept is to make full use of public space. The Metro should be accessible for all. The skywalks will run below the viaduct for 72 km as of now. These will be connected to educational institutions, hospitals, commercial and government complexes so that people need not take the roads but have direct access to these public places. That apart, all Metro stations will have feeder bus services.”

“At Ameerpet, Parade Grounds and MGBS, the concourse will be extended, which would be the skywalk. We want to provide facilities that will encourage commuters to walk up to the Metro stations,” he added.  Eight FOBs at Ameerpet, Khairatabad, Hyderabad Public School (Begumpet), St Ann’s School (Secunderabad), Rasoolpura and Dilsukhnagar have been removed to make way for the viaduct.