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THE licence agreement for an underground pedestrian walkway that links Wisma Atria and Orchard MRT Station will be terminated on Sept 30, Wisma's largest shareholder said yesterday.

Macquarie Pacific Star Prime Reit Management - manager of Macquarie MEAG Prime Real Estate Investment Trust, which owns 74 per cent of Wisma Atria - also said it is trying to delay the closure of the tunnel. It said it is seeking talks with government agencies and Orchard Turn Developments, which is developing the Orchard Turn site next to Wisma, to try to coincide the closure with the installation of new escalators linking Wisma to the street. These are expected to be operating by early December.

BT reported on Aug 18 that Wisma Atria could temporarily lose its captive shopper base - commuters going to and from Orchard station, who tend to flow into Wisma's basement 2 level - because of the pending closure of the tunnel.

The tunnel has to close because the CapitaLand and Sun Hung Kai Properties joint venture developing the Orchard Turn site must seal it before piling begins for their new mall-and-apartment project. On the same day the BT report was published, Macquarie Pacific Star moved to allay tenants' fears, saying it was preparing for the closure of the tunnel. Plans include escalators from street level to the basement, to improve direct access to Wisma.

Retailers in the basement are upset that the tunnel will close just before the busy lead-up to the Christmas shopping period.