Noida: Aqua Line ridership has risen sharply since the Sector 51-52 skywalk opened last month, according to Noida Metro Rail Corporation. Daily footfall has increased from around 70,000 to 85,000—a jump of about 21%. Residents said the skywalk has made the interchange between the two sectors easier. However, the area below the structure remains barricaded, affecting movement around the site.“Now, NMRC records normally 85,000 commuters per day. On some days, the ridership increased to 95,000. This shows there is an increase of about 20% commuters,” Noida CEO Krishna Karunesh said.The L-shaped, 400m air-conditioned skywalk project, equipped with travelators, was launched in March 2023 with a one-year completion target. It is also equipped with CCTV cameras and fire safety equipment for passenger safety.However, it faced multiple hurdles, including a change in alignment and construction curbs imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) during winter. The skywalk was finally opened on Aug 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.The skywalk was initially planned as a single-pillar structure, but the discovery of an underground metro cable during excavation led to a redesign with a two-column support system. Later, a beam was found to be obstructing its entry at Sector 51 station, prompting the Authority to modify the design and extend the skywalk further. The project cost also increased from Rs 25 crore to Rs 33 crore following the design changes.Sanjeev Kumar, a Sector 51 resident, said the skywalk has made the interchange between the two stations easier for commuters. “I take this interchange for commuting. The skywalk protects pedestrians from harsh weather like rainfall, sun and heat while maintaining safe, continuous urban mobility. It normally takes 4-5 minutes to cover this distance as people also use the travelators,” he added.However, a portion of the road between Sector 51 and 52 remains barricaded despite the project’s completion. Construction debris has also accumulated below the skywalk and needs to be cleared.
