The DMK government’s pet project, the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) has been under the scanner for several issues over the years. This time, the pedestrian skywalk, has come under scrutiny.
The construction of the pedestrian skywalk connecting the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam with a proposed suburban railway halt has come under scrutiny following observations raised by the Centre for Urbanisation, Buildings and Environment (CUBE), a Centre of Excellence housed at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
CUBE flagged concerns relating to design fragmentation, unauthorised execution, and deviations from the approved construction methodology in the 275-metre-long skywalk project. Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) officials confirmed receipt of the observations and stated that corrective works would be undertaken under CUBE’s supervision. Officials, however, maintained that the structure is safe and indicated that the skywalk and the newly added railway halt are likely to be opened to the public after the Assembly elections.
In a detailed letter to CMDA, the government-backed technical body highlighted structural and procedural lapses in the execution of the skywalk, which was originally designed by CUBE as a single, integrated structural system consisting of 55 grids. The project faced delays after private landowners challenged the acquisition of nearly one acre of land along GST Road, following which a stay order from the Madras High Court halted construction. This led authorities to revise the alignment to reduce private land acquisition by almost half.
Subsequently, CMDA appointed a separate structural consultant through a tender process to redesign key sections of the skywalk, particularly the spans between 20 metres and 100 metres, including portions crossing GST Road and the national highway. CUBE stated that its original drawings were ultimately used only for a limited segment within the bus terminus, between Grids 21 and 25, and that design responsibility for the remaining sections was formally transferred to the new consultant.
CUBE noted that it had no role in the revised structural scheme or construction methodology beyond that point. In its communication, the centre warned that the first long-span steel truss erected over the national highway exhibited visible sagging, a condition that can occur in truss bridges if erection-stage forces are inadequately analysed or monitored.
The centre also raised concerns regarding a staircase structure, stating that no “Good for Construction” drawings were issued due to unresolved discrepancies between architectural drawings and actual site levels. Despite this, reinforcement and slab works reportedly proceeded, resulting in a deck plate failure around September 2025. CUBE stated that this incident was not reported to it at the time. It further observed that the subsequent addition of crossbeams indicated possible structural inadequacy in the original design.
Additional deviations highlighted by CUBE included shifted beam bearings, altered weld connections, and departures from the approved erection methodology. While the skywalk was designed for ground-level fabrication followed by lifting, construction was carried out using in-situ erection methods, potentially introducing unaccounted structural stresses.
Following multiple site inspections, CUBE recommended that a single empowered authority reassess the skywalk as a unified structural system to ensure overall safety and integrity.
CMDA officials reiterated that remedial measures would be implemented based on the recommendations and that the facility would be opened to the public only after the necessary corrections and clearances are completed.
Source: The New Indian Express
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