Advertisement
When should a housing society in Mumbai start considering re...
From GST on JDAs to SEBI’s REIT reclassification and the S...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
West Bengal Chief Minister Smt Mamata Banerjee has inaugurated Kolkata's longest skywalk, a INR 77 crore project connecting Kalighat Temple to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road. Spanning 400 metres, the skywalk is designed to serve up to 60,000 pedestrians daily, reducing congestion near the iconic temple. Built by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the structure includes 12 escalators, 4 staircases, and 2 lifts, along with CCTV and firefighting systems. Despite early legal and political hurdles, the project was completed after a two-year delay. Officials now see the skywalk as a model for future projects in high-footfall areas balancing heritage preservation with infrastructure upgrades.
Kolkata now has its longest skywalk, connecting the iconic Kalighat Temple to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road, aimed at easing pedestrian movement for lakhs of devotees and tourists. West Bengal Chief Minister Smt Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the structure on Sunday, marking the completion of the much-awaited project after a delay of nearly two years. Advertisement
Constructed by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the 400-metre skywalk cost INR 77 crore and will serve 60,000 people daily, according to officials. It runs above the bustling Kalighat Road and leads directly into the temple premises, improving accessibility while decongesting narrow temple-side lanes that were often overwhelmed by vendors and traffic.
The elevated walkway features 12 escalators, 4 staircases, and 2 lifts, along with CCTV surveillance and firefighting systems. A large part of the route has also been covered to protect visitors from weather elements. The CM praised the KMC and engineers for completing the project despite legal hurdles and opposition from vendors during initial planning.
The project was first proposed in 2017 but faced strong resistance from local hawkers and some political parties. However, following public support and court clearances, work resumed and progressed steadily despite the pandemic. Mamata Banerjee emphasized that the skywalk was an essential addition to ease crowd management and ensure safety for elderly devotees and children visiting one of Bengal's holiest sites.
She added that similar elevated pedestrian walkways could be planned in other congested religious or tourist hubs across the city. The Kalighat Skywalk, blending traditional aesthetics with modern infrastructure, is now expected to serve as a blueprint for future civic projects aimed at balancing heritage with functionality.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
