Title - For a hassle-free passage: Skywalk to connect New Delhi railway station with its Metro station

Walking between the New Delhi railway station and the adjacent Metro station may soon become hassle-free with the Northern Railway planning to construct a skywalk to connect them.

According to a proposal prepared by the railway's Delhi division, the skywalk, enabled with escalators , will connect the railway station to the exits of Delhi Metro station and Airport Metro line.

Currently, passengers  have to walk through a maze of traffic to get inside the New Delhi station. Senior railway officials said a feasibility study on the one-of-a-kind skywalk was being done and rough estimates put its cost at rs 8 crore.

The entire cost of the project would be borne by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). DMRC's incentive in this project will be higher passenger volumes from the railway station. About 5 lakh passengers  visit the New Delhi station daily.

"The proposal we are preparing will have a skywalk connecting the foot overbridge number one with two exits - one at the Metro station and another at the Airport Metro. Along with channeling the passengers  to these exits and easing the pressure on our existing entry/exit points, it will provide the Metro trains more volumes of passengers ," said an official.

The railways will pitch in by providing land for the skywalk. "Land is a big commitment from our side. By providing land for the project, we will be bound to not create any structure above or below it. It will be a win-win deal for the railway, Metro and commuters ," said a railway official.

"Once we finish the feasibility report, we will submit it to the relevant authorities and an exhaustive discussion on the matter will be held," a Northern Railway spokespers on said.

DMRC officials confirmed working with the railways to finalise the blueprint for the skywalk. "The revised plan on the skywalk has been submitted to the railways for approval. The DMRC and railways are discussing the issue," said a DMRC spokespers on.

Skywalk was not the automatic choice to connect the railway station with the Metro station. The choice was reportedly between a skywalk and a tunnel, of which the former was shortlisted. It, however, has its own set of issues, one of them being the pillars  which will be constructed on the road and may impede the traffic flow.

The Airport Metro line originates at the New Delhi station, which is more than 200 metres away from the Ajmeri Gate end of the railway station.