India’s first single-rope suspended skywalk shaping up in Chikhaldara

The under-construction pillar of the skywalk in Chikhaldara.

Special Correspondent :

The tourists visiting Chikhaldara in Melghat area of Vidarbha region will have a special attraction to welcome them soon. A 407-metre-long skywalk project is being developed in Chikhaldara, a hill-station in Vidarbha. It will be the longest in the country and second longest in Asia. Also it will be India’s first single-rope suspended skywalk with glass floor. City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is developing the project at the cost of Rs 34.34 crore, and it is expected to be completed in February 2021. CIDCO has given the contract for the project to Apicon Construction Company, Indore. It started the work in February 2019. The work of first 40-metre column is under progress.

The work is affected due to COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. As per the project design, there will be two columns at the site situated near Hurricane spot at Panchbol point in Chikhaldara. The unique feature of the Skywalk is that it will be single-rope suspended bridge. There are five such projects in the country, including one each at Haridwar and Raipur, but they are developed with two-rope suspension. This is the first skywalk in the country with one-rope suspension.

The middle portion of the project will be 100-metre glass floor (glass deck) while the rest portion of this 407-metre long bridge will be developed with chequered steel plates to enable air pass-in. There will be chainlink fencing on both sides of the project. Two counter anchors are planned by the side of two big pillars to maintain weight of the bridge, sources informed ‘The Hitavada’ on Friday.

The walk over 180 metres deep valley with surrounding hills and lush green forest will prove to be a thrilling and memorable experience for tourists. Architecturally also, care is being taken to ensure that it will look beautiful once completed. The Skywalk will be an additional attraction to tourists visiting Melghat Tiger Reserve, which is home to around 40 tigers. It will boost tourism in Vidarbha, sources said. CIDCO’s Rs 1,100 crore devpt plan for Chikhaldara: CIDCO has prepared a development plan for Chikhaldara, involving Rs 1,100 crore. Sources said that the plan included dams, augmentation of water bodies, construction of internal and outer roads, improvement in tourist points, cable car etc. Work has not started yet but it will begin after sanction from the authorities concerned. The plan will add facilities for the tourists, sources added.