New Delhi: After a lot of delays, the engineering challenge and several Covid-19 waves, the skywalk planned at the New Delhi train station was finally almost finished and expected to be operational in October.
This will help passengers reach the nearest Delhi Metro station without crossing four traffic lines that are busy with luggage behind it.
Skywalk is sophisticated 210 meters, which will be an extension of the Foot Overbridge (FOB) inside the train station and take commuters directly to the New Delhi metro station, the airport expressway, the autorickshaw parking lot, is built by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in collaboration with North Railway.
This project is expected to help streamline the flow of traffic on the ajmeri gate from the train station.
In a pipe for almost three years, the project faced a delay immediately after taking off in 2019.
The last winter construction ban and Covid-19 outbreak stopped work.
Construction continued with safety guidelines in place, but right when the skywalk began to form, the second Covid-19 wave brought a job to the grinding stop.
A DMRC official said all steel ranges from Skywalk were established and 100 meters from the total structure of “diagrid”, which would support the roof, it was finished.
Skywalk will have a contemporary and sleek design and become a mild structure with metal and glass fittings.
It will have an open design to ensure ventilation.
There will be a canopy to protect commuters from harsh weather.
A plaza will be made with a small visitor lounge that offers a seat and comfortable toilet facilities.
“All the entry structural work has been completed, except the existing stairs from FOB trains.
Finishing is taking place at all entry points and exit and zinc cladding starts in the intersection building,” DMRC officials said.
At present, commuters who come out of the side of the ajmeri gate from the train station have to walk away with the luggage behind him to reach the New Delhi Metro station and the Express Line airport station.
Those who came out of the metro station had to cross the road, entering the train station and then climbed FOB again to reach the platform.
Another reason for the old detours to reach the metro station is because DMRC has made the nearest gate with the train station exit to avoid crowding.
Those who entered the metro station had to take a walk to reach another gate that led to the Express Line airport.
In October, FOB will be extended to the airport parking building Express Line across Marg Bhavbhuti through Skywalk.
There will be escalators and lifts to take passengers to a different gate from the metro station, autorickshaw and taxi bay and the railway station parking lot.