Residents demand skywalk

The year 2009 is set to be a pedestrian-friendly year for residents of many areas in Mumbai. However, residents of Chembur are still in the process of discussion with the Mumbai Metropolitan Road Development Authority (MMRDA) which is still in the process of considering the proposal of construction of the skywalk between GM Link road to Chembur railway station.


Kala Suresh, civic activist and 25 other residents have sent a letter to the MMRDA for construction of a skywalk to reduce the woes of the residents of the area. Says Suresh, “We had sent a detailed proposal to MMRDA where a Google image of the area marked out with details was given. We had been discussing with them on the proposal. Each time we were told that the project has been approved but there are some technical modalities which need to be taken into consideration before they embark on it.”

The residents had suggested that maximum area could be covered if the GM Link road skywalk could also be extended up to Chheda Nagar — it can take the aerial route above the nullah, as there will be no obstruction from buildings.  Says Neeraj Kumar, resident of Chheda Nagar, “There can be a straight connection from GM Link road to Chheda Nagar on Eastern Express Highway thus reducing the woes of pedestrians.”

“I travel in this area pretty often and the problem is that there's no proper crossing on many roads here. So a skywalk would really help because movement is really difficult right now,” says Danielle D'Souza.

“I think if there is a safe passage from east to west, it will certainly benefit everyone, especially an elderly citizen like me,” says Dr Chandraprabha, resident of Jeevan Jyot complex in Govandi.

In their letter to MMRDA, the residents had even asked for a joint meeting with M-East and West ward officials who were aware of the problem of pedestrians in the area. Says MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar, “We are co-ordinating with all the authorities in the area. Railway authorities were also co-operating in finalising the stations and surrounding areas for skywalk construction. The corporation is co-ordinating with the railways and the metropolitan administration to finalise the next list of skywalks in which Chembur would also be included.”

Lt Col A K Pahal, additional chief engineer, MMRDA, in-charge of the skywalk project said, “We have taken the proposal of the residents into consideration and the work on the skywalk has begun. There are many issues to be resolved before actual work starts. After the survey we have found that a skywalk would improve the transport infrastructure in the area and help improve safety and mobility of pedestrians. The skywalk will be about 30 ft wide and 1 km long, mostly at railway stations, and cost about Rs 8-12 crore. MMRDA also plans to provide space for hawkers on the skywalks.”