T’puram: In a fresh attempt to make foot overbridges more pedestrian-friendly, the city corporation is planning to install escalators at the East Fort foot overbridge (FOB), replacing the conventional stairway approach that has failed to attract regular users since the facility was commissioned.The civic body is also considering constructing a new foot overbridge equipped with escalators at the busy Medical College Junction, where heavy pedestrian movement and traffic congestion have long raised safety concerns.The proposal was discussed during a joint inspection conducted by the corporation’s town planning standing committee and other standing committee members at East Fort and Medical College. The discussions are presently at a preliminary stage, with officials examining the technical feasibility and financial implications of the project.Corporation sources said the move stems from the poor public response to existing foot overbridges, where commuters continue to cross busy roads instead of using the elevated structures.At East Fort, the corporation had earlier installed elevators to improve accessibility, particularly for elderly and disabled persons. However, the lifts have seen limited patronage, with most pedestrians preferring to cross the road directly rather than use the bridge.Officials believe escalators could significantly improve convenience by reducing the effort required to climb stairs, thereby encouraging greater use of the facility.One of the concerns raised during the discussions was the reluctance among some people to step onto escalators due to fear of accidents. To address this, the corporation is exploring the possibility of deploying trained personnel or security staff near the escalators to assist first-time users and ensure safe operation, especially during the initial phase after commissioning.Besides East Fort, the foot overbridges at Pattom and Cotton Hill have also witnessed poor usage, despite substantial investment in pedestrian infrastructure. Civic officials acknowledge that simply constructing bridges has not been sufficient to change pedestrian behaviour.
