Rs 10cr skywalk in Bareilly remains non-operational; 5th tender issued

Bareilly: Bareilly Municipal Corporation has floated a tender for the fifth time to operate the Rs 10.5 crore skywalk (foot overbridge) built in the Civil Lines area under the Smart City project, officials said on Saturday.Municipal commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya told TOI, "Four tenders had been issued earlier, but no eligible plan was tabled by any company. Contractors only focused on advertisements without presenting a proper plan to make it operational. We have now floated a new tender, and hopefully, it will become functional soon."Construction of the foot overbridge began in 2020 and was completed in 2023. However, the structure has remained unused since then. Traffic congestion beneath the bridge continues to cause inconvenience to commuters.Residents have expressed strong criticism over the delay. "This is an utter waste of taxpayers' money," said Shyam Kumar Sharma, a resident. "The skywalk was constructed for Rs 10.5 cr, and the fact that it is still not operational speaks volumes about the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities."BMC officials have cited technical issues, claiming electricity cannot be installed on the structure "as it is made entirely of iron".Residents also pointed out the absence of basic facilities. "The skywalk lacks basic facilities like escalators. Without lifts or escalators, how can elderly people use it? It is nothing but a waste of money," said Ahmed Husain, another resident.