While the Bhopal Metro was touted as a revolutionary shift for the city’s urban commute, the ground reality at Rani Kamalapati (RKMP) Railway Station suggests otherwise. A multi-crore skywalk, designed to seamlessly connect the railway station to the Metro station, has become a symbol of administrative apathy. Despite being ready, the facility remains shuttered, leaving passengers stranded at the gates. The 70-meter-long skywalk was constructed to provide a direct link for railway commuters to reach the Metro without stepping onto the main road. However, the Metro management has kept the shutters down. Consequently, passengers are forced to take a grueling 200 to 300-meter detour to board a train.

 

Multi-modal integration under lock and key RKMP Station handles an average of 50,000 passengers daily, a significant portion of whom travels toward AIIMS and Subhash Nagar. This skywalk was envisioned as the backbone of Bhopal’s multi-modal transport system. Experts suggest that if this direct corridor were operational, at least 10 percent of railway commuters would immediately opt for the Metro, significantly boosting ridership. While the railway end of the passage remains open, the locked shutters on the Metro side have left commuters in a state of constant confusion. Commuters brave traffic, heat Passengers lament that navigating an additional 300 meters with heavy luggage is an ordeal. “What should have been a safe, two-minute walk is now a struggle through sun, dust, and heavy road traffic,” noted a regular commuter.

 

The lack of access not only wastes time and energy but also forces pedestrians to risk crossing busy intersections. Addressing the public outcry, Metro management stated that the skywalk has not yet been commissioned for ‘full-fledged’ operations. Officials maintained that the facility would be opened to the general public ‘shortly’, though no specific date was provided for the commencement of services.