No skywalk, forced to cross the road? Blame VIPs

Local politicians obstruct skywalks as they block view of their commercial complexes

Local politicians and influential persons have stopped the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) from building foot overbridges (FoBs), claiming that the structures obstruct the view of their commercial complexes in prime areas.

In 10 other areas, the planned FoBs are being relocated as they are in the Metro Rail corridor. These FoBs, incidentally, were planned to be built on the corridor after Metro Rail services began.

According to sources, the GHMC a month ago decided to construct 38 FoBs in 120 days. It finalised the designs and earmarked `102 crore for the project. When officials were about to lay the foundation stones of the FoBs at prime locations, influential people and local politicians opposed it, claiming that they would lose land. Besides, they said, the view of their malls and other properties would be marred by the FoBs.

The GHMC, and the traffic police, then realised that 10 FoBs were planned on the Metro Rail corridors, where the stations have a staircase for general pedestrians. All these FoBs will now be taken to other areas. “What was the need to construct a FoB in front of Gandhi Hospital where there are two Metro Rail stations within 500 metres, with escalators, elevators and staircases,” asked a senior municipal administration and urban development official, requesting anonymity.

“The moment we start work, either a politician or a popular personality begins interfering and even threatens the field workers with severe consequences. We will discuss with senior officials how to go ahead with the project without any interference,” a GHMC official said.

The FoBs have been on paper since 2012. In 2017, the government handed over the project to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). It said there was response from the bidders and handed it over to the GHMC in June 2018.

The government asked the GHMC to construct eight skywalks besides 52 FoBs. The GHMC floated tenders afresh. This year, the number was cut to 38. Over a period of eight years, tenders were floated at least 50 times.

Ten FoBs each are proposed to be built in the LB Nagar and Serilingampally packages, seven in Charminar, four in Khairatabad, five in Secunderabad package and two in the Kukatpally package.