Noida: Noida Authority will open a skywalk connecting Sectors 51 and 52 metro stations linking the Aqua Line and Blue Line corridors on Raksha Bandhan. Officials said a beam blocking entry to the Sector 52 station has been removed and the long-delayed project is finally ready.Construction on the L-shaped, 400-m air-conditioned skywalk began in March 2023 with a one-year completion target. But multiple hurdles, including a change in alignment and construction curbs imposed by the National Green Tribunal during winter, delayed the project.The skywalk, equipped with travelators, 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, it was found that a beam obstructed its entry at Sector 51 station. Noida later changed the design of the skywalk and extended it further. The project cost also rose from Rs 25 crore to Rs 33 crore due to a change in the design.Facilities at the skywalk include CCTV cameras and fire-safety equipment for passenger safety.When the metro line was first launched, a temporary covered walkway facilitated movement between the two stations, but it was dismantled after construction work began, forcing thousands of daily passengers to traverse the distance in the open, often in extreme weather conditions.Sumit Kumar, a commuter, said that the skywalk will significantly improve the interchange between Sector 51 and Sector 52 stations. “At present, commuters have to leave the station and negotiate a narrow, congested stretch with autos, e-rickshaws, vendors and uneven surfaces. The new enclosed, air-conditioned skywalk will provide a safer, weather-protected pedestrian route, with travelators making the transfer easier,” he said.
