Hyderabad Metro: Skywalks to connect Raheja Mindspace, malls

Hyderabad: In an effort to mitigate the city's complicated traffic issues and lower air pollution, the state government has taken a decision to improve the public transportation system in order to decrease the number of private vehicles.

As part of this, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) managing director NVS Reddy and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Metropolitan Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed have supported the construction of skywalks connecting metro stations to business and residential buildings in the surrounding area decided in principle during the Comprehensive Mobility Planning conference, held recently at HMDA Swarnajayanti Bhavan.

NVS Reddy said that L&T has already constructed flyovers from Panjagutta, Hitech City, Erramanzil metro stations to the malls they are developing and provided the convenience for metro passengers to reach these commercial complexes directly. Similarly, skywalks have been constructed connecting JBS and Parade Ground stations without the need for passengers to cross the road.

Raheja has built a state-of-the-art skywalk with many amenities for easy access by those working in many international organizations located in the 11 towers of the Raheja MindSpace Complex from Rayadurg Metro Station. The Circular Rotary Skywalk, constructed by HMDA to connect Uppal Metro Station with all the roads around Uppal Junction, is very useful for Metro passengers and pedestrians crossing the roads, he said.

Elaborating further, Reddy said that, keeping this in mind, the construction of skywalks from metro stations is being encouraged on a large scale. "It is getting a good response from various real estate companies and other residential buildings and commercial complexes. Currently, the company is constructing a skywalk from Dr. Ambedkar Balanagar Metro Station to Phoenix/Landmark Mall is under construction near it,” he said.

The HMRL MD also said that the Vasavi Group is also constructing a skywalk from the LB Nagar station to the Vasavi Anandanilayam residential complex under construction near it. A total of 12 towers with 33 storeys in each tower are being constructed in the total 25 acres of the Vasavi Anandanilayam complex. This skywalk will provide great comfort to many families who are going to live in many them. “A few companies are negotiating with us to construct such skywalks from many metro stations like Nagole, Stadium, Durgam Cheruvu, Kukatpally,” he added.

“If any private companies want to construct such skywalks from metro stations, they should contact L&T Metro Rail Metro Rail Station Retail Officer KV Nagendra Prasad can dial 9900093820. Also, in all 57 stations of the first phase of the Hyderabad Metro, which is spread over 69 km, there is a facility for reaching from one side of the road to the other side of each station. These can be used by any pedestrians as unpaid routes, not just metro passengers,” Reddy said, and appealed to people to use these and cross the road safely to avoid accidents.