Kilambakkam skywalk to have kiosks, seating bay

Chennai: From kiosks, ticket counters, seating areas and display boards with timings of buses and suburban trains will mark the 300m skywalk connecting the MTC terminal near Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus in Kilambakkam and the Kilambakkam railway station on the opposite side.
In the first phase, an elevated pedestrian walkway will connect the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus terminus in Kilambakkam with the railway station.In the second phase, it will link to the main terminal. Construction has begun near the MTC terminus, according to an official inChennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta).
The skywalk will originate at the railway station, spanning across its three platforms and extending over GST Road to the MTC terminal. There will be descending arms to each platform, GST Road, and the terminal, with elevators, escalators, and ramps.
"The deck above the platforms will be 20m wide, while the rest of the structure will be 8m wide. Kiosks and ticket counters will be placed on the deck, with designated seating areas for passengers to rest while waiting for transport.
The skywalk will also be accessible for the differently abled, with ramps leading to elevators," said a Cumta official.
Meanwhile, the process of land acquisition near the railway station is expected to be completed soon. "In this area, we will have a dedicated bay where buses bound towards Chennai can halt. There will be a parking facility, shops, and seating area," the official said
Urban planners suggest that the skywalk should not be a closed one but should be designed based on the ‘eyes on street concept' – where visibility does not become an issue.
Karthikeyan Baskar, an urban planner, said that the skywalk should have been in place much before the bus terminus was inaugurated. "Once inaugurated, its maintenance should be ensured. The elevators and escalators should function round the clock," he said.
Residents like K Ramadass point out that the share auto and taxi stands should be created near the skywalk. "This will help people alight near the structure and get onto it without disturbing traffic flow," he said