Hyderabad: 660-metre skywalk to ease traffic congestion at Uppal

Hyderabad: The much awaited skywalk at the busy Uppal junction will in probability be completed in another three months.

The loop-shaped facility, being constructed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority under the existing Metro Rail structure, promises to be another unique engineering achievement in the capital city.

Work is progressing at a brisk pace and the probable date of completion is May 2022, an HMDA official said.

“The columns of the structure have been laid and 60 per cent of the deck portion has been built for the facility, which is estimated to cost about Rs.35 crore,” he said.

The 660 metre-skywalk connects all four sides of the Uppal junction and is integrated with the Metro station at concourse level, bus-stops and commercial establishments. The skywalk has six entry and exit points. The Metro Station towards Nagole Road, Ramanthapur Road, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) theme park, the Warangal bus-stop near the GHMC office, the Uppal Police Station and the road opposite to Uppal Electrical Substation are the hop-on stations.

The skywalk is equipped with a host of facilities, which include eight lifts, four escalators and six staircases facilitating pedestrian movement in multiple directions unlike conventional skywalks that facilitate passage from one end to the other.

The width is 3 metres to 4 metres with bulges to 6 metres at a few stretches while the overall height is 9.25 metres. Speaking about the structure, HMDA engineers said the foundation was of Reinforced Cement Concrete while the columns and deck were of steel.

The skywalk is expected to enhance pedestrian safety in addition to easing traffic congestion at the Uppal junction.

Uppal’s surge

The State government’s Growth in Dispersion (GRID) policy is turning the eastern parts of the city, especially the Uppal area, into a busy location with IT companies, commercial establishments and residential buildings mushrooming. And this has in turn increased the traffic density.

The growth chart includes Genext Square, a 2 million sq ft commercial space being developed by Genpact and Ramky Estates in Habsiguda and Uppal.

In addition to this, due to traffic from Secunderabad towards LB Nagar and back, the Uppal junction witnesses heavy footfall.