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Vile Parle skywalk will benefit pedestrians: HC

The Bombay high court on Thursday dismissed a PIL challenging the proposed construction of a skywalk on DJ Road in Vile Parle (West).

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The Bombay high court on Thursday dismissed a PIL challenging the proposed construction of a skywalk on DJ Road in Vile Parle (West).

Clearing the decks for the walkway that will stretch from Vile Parle railway station to Swami Vivekanand Road, the court observed, “A skywalk is an alternative and a good substitute for the footpath. It may solve the problem of overcrowding of pedestrians on the road and also the traffic to a certain extent.”

The petition filed by the Vile Parle Vyapari and Residents' Association (VPVRA) had opposed the construction of the skywalk calling it a “waste of public money”. They had contended that according to information sought under the Right to Information Act, constructing the 500m skywalk would cost Rs1 crore and the Maharashtra Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had invited tenders of up to Rs14 crore.
Moreover, the petitioners contended that old and full-grown trees would be hacked to make way for the construction of the skywalk. Also, since encroachments in the area had been removed pursuant to high court directions, a skywalk was, therefore, not necessary.
The MMRDA, however, contended that the cost of the skywalk is based on technical norms and will not amount to wastage of public money as majority of the residents have given positive opinions about the skywalk in the visitors’ book at the construction site. They told the court that only branches of more than 6 feet in size have been cut.
The agency also said that there are 10 educational institutions in the area and 80% students use the road.

Justice Ranjana Desai and justice Mridula Bhatkar noted, “Heavy traffic, crowding of shops and people is an unending process in a metro city. To meet these challenges it is incumbent on the state and the public bodies to chalk out such a policy.”
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