ITO Skywalk may be thrown open to pedestrians before Diwali

NEW DELHI: Delhi government's PWD's major project –the 615-meter-long Skywalk at ITO– may be thrown open to pedestrians before Diwali, as finishing touches are being given now. The Union Urban and Housing Development Minister Harideep Singh Puri had laid down foundation stone on April 29 but the Delhi government's official was not invited at the time of foundation laying event. Delhi's Public Work Department, which is executing agency of the skywalk project, prepared project details.

All expenditure will be borne by the Union Ministry. Out of Rs 54.34 crore needed for the project, Rs 43.47 crore will be provided by the Urban Development Fund and Rs 10.87 crore by the DDA.

On August 25, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, along with PWD Minister Satyendar Jain had inspected the site of the project. Sisodia said this would be a "beautiful infrastructure" in the city. At that time, Sisodia announced that ITO Skywalk is likely to be inaugurated by September-end or early October. However, no new date has been

announced yet.

At least 29,000 pedestrians cross the road at ITO every day. The over 600-metre-long skywalk will facilitate smooth movement of pedestrians, connecting Sikandra Road, Mathura Road, Tilak Marg and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg with Pragati Maidan and ITO Metro stations and the Supreme Court.

"The work began in April, about 98 per cent work is over, and it is expected to open for public by the end of October. From metro stations here, people would be able to go directly to nearby locations, like ITO, Tilak Marg and Supreme Court, etc, without the need to step out on to the street from the stations," said a PWD official.

Authorities are expecting a footfall of nearly 30,000 per day once the skywalk becomes operational.

As part of the skywalk project, a 60-metre-long footover-bridge (FOB) will also be constructed on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg near Hans Bhawan.

Around 25 major offices are located in the ITO area, including Police and PWD headquarters, Institute of Engineers, Income Tax office, Central Excise, DDA office, School of Planning and Architecture, Supreme Court and Pragati Maidan.