Pattom skywalk lies incomplete

Thiruvananthapuram: With schools set to reopen on June 6, the biggest problem facing students and parents alike is the peak hour traffic rush.

At Pattom, students of St. Marys Higher Secondary School have to cross the busy highway every day  to reach the campus. The Skywalk project aimed at helping students cross the road safely is yet to be implemented.

Many point at skywalk as the solution for pedestrians especially students to negotiate the heavy congestion during peak hours. The dumping of construction materials including steel pipes and concrete slabs have made life miserable for those using the footpath.

To add to their woes, the nearby bus shelter is filled with such materials forcing people to wait on the main road making them vulnerable to traffic mishaps.

“The congestion near St Mary’s School during rush hours in the morning and evening is mainly due to parents bringing their children in vehicles. The Skywalk project is expected to reduce the congestion to a great extent and also help avoid accidents involving pedestrians,” said Traffic CI Mr. Suresh.

The construction activities began here in September last year. The project is being executed under the public-private partnership between the city corporation and Sun Infrastructure Private Limited.

Officials say the venture got delayed because of the technical issues involving KSEB and legal issues related to PWD which are yet to be resolved.

However, those connected with the project maintain that everything is going on smoothly. All issues have been knitted together, work will restart at the earliest and will be completed within one and a half months,  said  an official of the company.

This is the same company which, along with the corporation, had successfully installed the skywalk at Cotton Hill School in Vazhuthacaud.

 While the company and officials concerned claim it to be a big success, a section of people point out that using the sky walk is yet to become a habit with the students.

Meanwhile, the work on the skywalk in East Fort is expected to be inaugurated later this month.

There will be two skywalks in the area; one from the Gandhi park exit towards Attukal stand and another from Attukal stand to the Attakulangara bus stand.