Work on the much-anticipated pedestrian skywalk connecting Kilambakkam’s Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) with a new suburban railway halt station has resumed, following a redesign that resolved long-standing land acquisition disputes. The project, overseen by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), aims to enhance last-mile connectivity and boost multi-modal transport integration in South Chennai.

Originally envisioned as a 275-metre-long skywalk supported by 55 structural grids, the project was stalled due to legal challenges from landowners opposing the acquisition of nearly one acre of private land. A stay order from the Madras High Court halted construction activities along GST Road. To address the impasse, CUMTA reworked the alignment to reduce dependency on private land. The revised design now requires only 55% of the initially contested land, with the owner agreeing to the revised terms.

According to I Jayakumar, Special Officer at CUMTA, “Construction is underway alongside land acquisition. We have redesigned the segment between 20 and 100 metres to align with the new land boundary conditions, and structural consultants are working on updated plans.”

The new skywalk, now 450 metres long, will connect the Rs 393 crore KCBT—one of South Chennai’s largest intercity transport hubs—with the new halt station located approximately 200 metres away. The infrastructure is being developed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and includes lifts, escalators, and staircases to ensure frictionless movement between bus and rail systems.

With the North-East Monsoon approaching, officials are targeting an inauguration in the first week of October. Should weather conditions delay progress, the revised deadline extends to December 2025. The Rs 100 crore skywalk is seen as a key step towards transforming Kilambakkam into a seamless transport interchange that reduces road congestion, lowers reliance on feeder buses, and provides accessibility to long-distance and daily commuters.