The ambitious Skybus project, after lying in limbo for nine years, is finally bidding goodbye as the Konkan Railway has decided to demolish the mammoth structure.
The 1.6-km-long test track structure placed at about 10 m above the ground at Madgaon in Goa is slated to be erased and sold as scrap.
Besides the structure, two air-conditioned coaches, part of the Skybus service, will also be sold off as authorities have decided to scrap the project in the absence of qualified bidders.
“It is a sad decision to scrap the project. But there are no other options as we tried for long to make it operational,” Konkan Railway chairman and managing director B.P, Tayal said.
The Skybus project, first-of-its-kind in India, is a modified rail with overhead tracks on the underside of a concrete structure at a height of about 10 m from the ground. The concrete lane is supported by columns rising from the central verge of existing roads.
“We invited global expression of interest for the project twice but did not get any favourable response,” Mr Tayal said, adding “now the maintenance cost is going up so we have to dispose it off before the corrosion sets in.”
The indigenous project had cost about `50 crores. Konkan Railway has to spent about `3 crores more for the dismantling the structure.
“It was the decision of board of directors to scrap the project. A technical committee will be set up now to suggest ways for dismantling the structure,” said the Konkan Railway CMD.