City Gets FOB With Escalators

With the inauguration of the swanky new state of the art Foot-over-Bridge (FOB) at Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, on Monday, the city has become the first in the country to have an FOB with escalators and elevators.

The FOB was constructed at a cost of Rs. 3 crore, and is part of the Public-Private-Partnership between the GHMC and Prakash Arts Pvt. Ltd. on a Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) basis at their own cost allotted in an open-bid auction under the 'Fund Your City' program.

Governor Narasimhan told media persons, after inaugurating the FOB, that he has advised the police and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation authorities to ban people from crossing roads on foot wherever FOBs are present.

Narasimhan said that corporates must come forward to take up social service as part of their social responsibility.

The Governor said that the city needs many more such FOBs. He also said that there was an urgent need to work towards instilling traffic sense among the people of the city.

He said that the elevator and escalators would be very useful for the old, infirm and children.

Prakash Arts MD C D V Subba Rao and Chief Operating Officer H V Surendernath said that the FOB will be open for public use from 6am to 10pm, and that security would be provided round the clock.

He also said that four more such FOBs are proposed to be built at Abids, Begumpet Police Lines, Hi-Tech City and Dilsukhnagar.

The FOB has been built with elevators and escalators keeping the needs of senior citizens, physically impaired and handicapped persons in mind.

It has been installed with outdoor elevators and escalators made from stainless steel, and is equipped with automatic door operation electrical mechanical lock, automotive switching system and suspension ropes.

The GHMC will take over ownership of the FOB after completion of the BOT period.

Health Minister D Nagender, Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy, MP Anjan Kumar Yadav, MLC Sudhakar Reddy and GHMC Commissioner Sameer Sharma were present on the occasion.

Courtesy: INN