Kottayam Skywalk Project Set for Revival After UDF Returns to Power

The Kottayam skywalk project, halted for over a decade amid political disputes, is set to resume after the United Democratic Front (UDF) returned to power in Kerala. Kottayam MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan stated the project will be taken up on a priority basis by the new state cabinet, marking a reversal of the previous LDF government's stance. Construction on the 45-metre-wide skywalk at Seematti roundabout began in February 2016 but stopped shortly after the steel framework was erected. Designed to ease congestion at the city's busiest junction, the structure was to include elevators, kiosks, and seating areas. The project was initially announced by the UDF government in May 2015. The LDF, which governed Kerala for the past decade, deemed the project unviable and explored dismantling parts of the structure. In 2023, an IIT Palakkad committee recommended removing the roof and columns above platform level, while the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau opened an inquiry into alleged fund misappropriation. The Kerala High Court also received a petition calling for demolition. In June 2024, then Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar declared the project unfeasible, citing a revised cost estimate of Rs. 17.85 crore. With the UDF now in power, officials plan to reassess the structure's viability and determine the next steps for completion. The state government is expected to release a formal update within the coming weeks.