Hyderabad: The proposal to criss-cross the city with skywalks may sound citizen-friendly, but transportation experts say it is not viable for a city like Hyderabad, which has homogeneous land use, where work, residential and business centres are distributed in all areas.
They say that skywalks will go largely unused.
Mr K.M. Lakshmana Rao, head of the JNTU civil engineering department, said that skywalks would not suit Indian conditions. Besides, the Metro Rail had occupied prime locations in the city.
Mr N.V. Ramana Rao, civil engineering expert from JNTU, said that skywalks would be successful only if escalators were provided. They could be used for advertisements to generate revenue.
GHMC sources said pedestrians do not use foot over bridges even if they have elevators and escalators.
The foot overbridges at LV Prasad Eye Hospital have escalators but most pedestrians still cross the road.
Similar scenes can be witnessed at the FoBs in Banjara Hills Road No 2 and Ameerpet.
The GHMC has spent up to Rs 1 crore on contract of the FoBs. “Who will use the skywalks is a million dollar question,” a corporation official said.
