LuLu Mall has become the first business establishment in the city to have a direct skywalk to a Kochi metro station.
The structure was commissioned on Thursday by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) managing director A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish.
The facility will enable people to walk directly from the Edappally metro station to the mall and back.
The skywalk will be operational from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is expected to lessen vehicular congestion at the junction.
More in the offing
A couple of other business establishments like Chennai Silks are also in the process of connecting with metro stations through skywalks. This is in accordance with KMRL’s station interconnection policy. Talks are also on with representatives of an apartment complex to establish a direct link with a nearby metro station, KMRL sources said.
According to the KMRL policy, the entire cost of direct connectivity, including civil work, lighting, additional lifts, shifting of utilities, ticketing office, security cabins, and other modifications/alterations, will be borne by the firm that is keen on having a skywalk link with a metro station.
The land licence fee for the ‘shadow area’ of the skywalk within the KMRL property, equal to 99% of the market value of the land, and a licence fee per annum for 35 years have to be paid in advance.
There will also be a refundable security deposit of ₹10 lakh, which will be refunded on the termination of the agreement, after deducting the estimated restoration cost or damages, if any, metro sources said.
People can now go to LuLu Mall through the skywalk, without exiting the metro station.
The skywalk’s architecture resembles the Kochi metro coaches. The structure cost ₹5 crore, said a release issued by the mall.