Gurgaon: Commuters travelling to Udyog Vihar using Rapid Metro may soon have a safer and more convenient pedestrian link. Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) has granted in-principle approval to integrate the footbridge being built at Shankar Chowk with Cyber City metro station’s existing walkway. An HMRTC official confirmed that the proposal submitted by DLF had been accepted in principle.DLF is constructing the footbridge at Shankar Chowk as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. The project was planned for completion within the next two months. However, restrictions under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are likely to hamper the pace of work and could push back the deadline.The proposed integration will connect the pedestrian infrastructure at Shankar Chowk with the Rapid Metro station, providing commuters with a continuous access route towards Udyog Vihar. The move is expected to ease the difficulties faced by office-goers who currently have to navigate a busy highway and traffic around one of the busiest junctions once they get down from the metro.The corporation has, however, sought detailed drawings from the developer to work out the integration, as the new pedestrian facility will connect with its existing metro infrastructure. “The proposal has been accepted in principle. We have sought some detailed drawings from DLF, after which the integration will be taken forward,” an official said.Work on the walkway of the footbridge has already progressed, with the structure installed and canopy work currently under way. An approximately 150m-long footbridge is planned with three access points — one near Cyber Hub, another beneath the metro station on NH-8 and a third connecting towards Udyog Vihar near Atrium Place. The footbridge also has the provision of lifts at two entrances, including Cyber Hub and Atrium Place.“Most of the work has been completed, including fabrication and installation of grills. Now staircase construction is being undertaken near Cyber Hub. It will now be integrated with metro walkway, so people using metro don’t have to walk on road to cross the stretch. We are hoping to complete the work at the earliest,” said a person, who is associated with the construction of the project.Once integrated, the infrastructure will provide a more direct pedestrian connection between Cyber Hub, the Rapid Metro station and Udyog Vihar. It is also expected to benefit thousands of employees who commute daily to offices in the area and rely on public transport for their last-mile connectivity.Shankar Chowk is a major traffic junction connecting NH-8, Cyber City, Udyog Vihar and Golf Course Road. With traffic converging from all directions, this results in a bottleneck near Shankar Chowk. It already hosts the Cyber City rapid metro station, and the location is set to become even more complex with the upcoming Gurgaon Metro and RRTS, both expected to have stations here.Despite the presence of the Rapid Metro station and a large concentration of offices nearby, pedestrian movement around the junction remains challenging because of heavy vehicular traffic and multiple road crossings. At Shankar Chowk, around 80,000-90,000 vehicles pass through this junction, with 20,000-25,000 pedestrians crossing daily. This is among the black spots on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. Last year, this junction saw seven accidents, with three people dying. Last year in Nov, a subway, which was also developed by DLF Foundation under its CSR initiative at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore, was opened to the public.
