The skywalk: A road above hell

It was supposed to be the only project for pedestrians in the city. Some of the 26 skywalks built so far have benefited pedestrians to some extent but the crucial roads below them had to pay a price.

The skywalk project was mooted to connect stations to important roads of the area.

Four years, around Rs600 crore and 26 skywalks later, the picture is a sorry one. With most skywalks constructed on the road’s median, they are eating up space on crucial station roads.

The agency that built the skywalks, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), has been patting its back by claiming that more than 10 lakh pedestrians and suburban railway commuters use skywalks every day.

However, from illegal parking to illegal hawking, the skywalks have almost eaten up the space on crucial station roads everywhere. Most places, including Vile Parle, Bandra, Goregaon and Kandivli, have messed up station road after skywalks were built. And so wonder the MMRDA is in the line of fire. 

“They have completely ruined many suburban roads, which are vital. The stretch under most skywalks has been virtually lost. What kind of planning is this?” said Jagdeep Desai, who works for a Non-Government Organisation, Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs.

The first skywalk, connecting Bandra (East) station to Kalanagar at a cost of Rs13 crore, opened in 2008 but according to Desai makes people walk more.

“They cannot cross over on the flyover opposite the Bandra court. So the alignment was taken right up to the area where the flyover ends,” said Desai.

Walking on the Vile Parle (West) station road used to be a pleasant experience for 40-year-old Ketan Gala during his college days as he strolled towards Mithibai College. Now he finds the road in a shambles.

“I understand the need for the skywalk here. Thousands may be using it daily. However, the Vile Parle skywalk abruptly ends near SV Road. What is more shocking is that neither the MMRDA nor the BMC have maintained the space below the skywalk. There is illegal parking, making it difficult for motorists driving under the skywalk,” said Gala.

Many feel that the skywalk project is a classic example of lack of coordination between the two agencies. While the MMRDA has washed its hands of the matter after building walkways, the BMC officials seem to be least bothered about the encroachments around them. Out of 50 skywalks, only 26 were built. Many are being not used and many are poorly maintained. Social activist Jitendra Gupta was part of the agitation that got the Kurla skywalk scrapped.

“Mumbai commuters are always in a rush to catch a train. If skywalks save them that crucial minute or two to reach the station, they would certainly prefer it. But the MMRDA has failed to provide short-cuts at most places,” said Gupta.

Krishna Raj Rao, RTI activist and conveyer of the Brave Pedestrian (Sahasi Yatri) movement, finds himself in minority backing the project. “I agree there is a lot of mess under the skywalks,” said Rao. “However, the skywalks have helped to a great extent. It feels great walking on Vile Parle and Bandra skywalks because without them the situation would have been horrible,” said Rao.

MMRDA officials agree that the road under the skywalks have become congested and blame the BMC. “The reason to build skywalks in the middle of the road was to avoid mess of vehicles under. If people park vehicles and throw garbage there, how can MMRDA control it? It is for the BMC and traffic department to look into the issues,” said a senior official, who was part of the team constructing skywalks.

The encroachments below the skywalks have been blamed on the BMC. According to the civic sources there are more than two agencies involved so it is difficult to take action. 

Vijay Balamwar, deputy municipal commissioner (encroachment removal squad), said the BMC is planning to take action. “Next week I will get information about the encroachments under the skywalks. I will coordinate with the government agencies and plan to remove them,” he said.

Inputs from Rajendra Aklekar, Akshay Deshmane and Pandurang Mhaske