Mangaluru: It has been more than three months since the foundation stone for the city’s first skywalk was laid; however, work on the project is yet to begin.

The foundation stone was laid on August 23 and the skywalk was supposed to connect Town Hall side with road at Mini Vidhana Soudha at Hampankatta. The location was chosen as it was one of the most crowded areas and that people who arrived at the Mangaluru Central Railway Station used to cross the road to board city buses.

However, sources say that it was not clear as to how the shortage of funds would be met for the project.

The project is estimated to cost about Rs 1.56 crore and the Nirmiti Kendra was given the responsibility of constructing it. It is said that though Mangaluru City Corporation would bear 5 % of the project cost while Rs 78 lakh would be borne by another source, more funds would be required. MLA J R Lobo has assured that he would get the same.

As per plans for the project, the skywalk would have escalators for going up and steps for climbing down. Sources say that it was planned in that way so that more people would use the skywalk.

It is learnt that the land for the project would be handed over only after the proposal for the project was submitted and that could be submitted only after the structural design was ready.

Once the skywalk was ready, it would be handed over to the Mangaluru City Corporation for maintenance, it is said.