Skywalk cannot be built in Kottayam, will have to demolish it in future, says Transport Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar on Wednesday said in the Assembly that the state government will not go ahead with the construction of the skywalk project in Kottayam. The minister was replying to MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan's demand that the skywalk project should be completed soon.

"I initially thought that the structure in the middle of Kottayam town was a sculpture made by some artist who came for the biennale in Ernakulam because of his friendship with Thiruvanchoor. Only after taking charge as minister did I realise that it was a skywalk. The then Collector had given a report stating that private land would not have to be acquired for the project. Back then, it was said that the land would be given free of cost. However, that is not the case now. Only the Corporation's land has been acquired. Crores of rupees will be needed to acquire the rest of the land. Road Safety Authority does not have the power to purchase land for the project," the minister said.

"The report submitted by IIT Palakkad stated that the proposed skywalk is not scientifically sound. The report stated that the foundation was inadequate and the possibility of strengthening the structure should be explored. This has been reported to the High Court. NATPAC stated that the skywalk would require six lifts and three staircases. As per the new estimate, the project would now cost Rs 17.80 crore," Ganesh Kumar said.

"In the last report, the Collector said that land cannot be acquired for the project. If the project is completed without acquiring the land, the structure will have to be demolished later as part of the further development of the district," he added.