A bridge too high, sigh!

Do you know why Mumbai’s so-called sky bridges, outcomes of mega investments, are not used optimally? Do you realise that they have become non-performing assets, so to speak, that will make you exclaim, ‘Oh! What a waste of public money!’? I performed two simple tests to figure out why. I used two of the biggest sky bridges (one at the Bandra station, the other at the Sion station).

To use the Bandra bridge, I had to carry myself up 73 steps and climb down another 73. That is, 146 steps in all. At Sion, the equation was a just little less daunting: 53+53 = 106 steps. Would I, or anyone else for that matter, feel encouraged to use sky bridges again? Very unlikely. Not just because they don’t have escalators or are inconvenient. Their deserted looks are plain scary.

Their unkempt state, complete with slimy, dusty and winding staircases, is hardly inviting. The odd user and vagabonds heighten the eerie feeling.

Can anything be done to salvage the situation and ensure higher usage, fewer accidents involving pedestrians on roads, and uninterrupted traffic? Absolutely. Just add escalators to these projects.

Actually, it’s a bit disappointing to note that these sky bridges were erected without escalators in the first place. It is no less a shocker that Mumbai still does not have escalators everywhere. Only select modern developments like malls, multiplexes and corporate headquarters have them. Even more stunning is that this 20th century technology is perceived as ‘hi-tech’ in the 21st century Mumbai that seems intent on pushing 19th.

During a recent visit to Bangkok, Thailand, I noticed that the level of usage of sky bridges, which run directly underneath the metro rail lines, is pretty high. Of course, there were escalators and elevators everywhere in addition to stairs, making these bridges user-friendly. They were clean and neat too (pictured alongside).

How come even a country like Thailand gets things about infrastructure right whereas in India, Mumbai seems to squander its funds on projects that prove wasteful eventually? And to think that if just a little extra money had been spent on things like escalators, the same investments would have been successful.

It is, however, heartening to note that a beginning of sorts to the transition to the escalator age has been made by Indian Railways. DNA reported last month how with a meagre investment of Rs 2.7 crore, escalators will be installed at 30 suburban rail stations beginning with Vikhroli.

But not so edifying is the discourse (corporatespeak, if you will) accompanying this project. To the officials who are making much noise about the physical dimensions (width, height, length, etc) of escalators, I have this to say: shut up. Just shut the @#$% up.

It is not as if there are no escalators in this world higher/longer than six metres. For instance, several tube stations in London and Singapore boast escalators that are as long as 30-40 metres.  They are installed at multiple levels both above and below the ground surface.

Mumbai has a long, long way to go, in terms of putting in place infrastructure for the 21st century. Escalators are as important as the CM’s alleged pet project (slum-free Mumbai). Perhaps, there is a challenge here for Mumbai’s IITians in terms of inventing cost-effective and customised technological solutions?