Bengaluru: Silk Board Junction will soon have an elevated walkway connecting its Yellow and Blue Line Metro stations. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) Sunday floated a tender for the walkway’s civil and finishing works.Estimated to cost around Rs 59 crore, the walkway will also include a travelator — the first of its kind within the city’s Metro network. Travelator, a common sight at airports, is a slow-moving, conveyor-style pedestrian platform designed to transport people over short-to-medium distances in transit hubs.The walkway, estimated to be around 250 metres long, will connect the already operational Metro station in the Yellow Line, which connects Bommasandra to RV Road, with the upcoming Blue Line, which passes through the Outer Ring Road. The contract will include civil, structural works, and architectural finishing work to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the walkway.Unlike other interchange stations in the city, such as Majestic, Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road, and MG Road, Silk Board will not have a direct transition between lines, making the need for the walkway inevitable. The upcoming station on the Blue Line, slated for completion in Dec 2026, will also connect to Kempegowda International Airport in 2027.“Land acquisition for the project is ongoing. Once the bidding period is over, it will take at least one or two months to select the eligible bidder. Only the tender has been floated; technical specifications are yet to be figured out,” a BMRCL official said.According to the Metro operator, the works are expected to be completed within nine months from when the contract is awarded. With an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 58 lakh, interested parties have been given time till May 5 to submit bids.GFXLinking Yellow & Blue* First travelator in Namma Metro* Approx. 250 metres long * Estimated cost: Rs 59 crore * Expected work duration: 9 months
