Skywalks should come up in a planned way

Do you think more skywalks are required in our suburbs?
While MMRDA proposed the launching of the skywalks in the suburbs, the suburbanites took it with appreciable enthusiasm. However locations of the skywalks chosen were not readily acceptable by the residents of certain suburbs in view of a few constraints faced by the localities. So at first, the sites for the skywalks must be well thought over, so that it provides the citizens the required relief and at the same time it should provide maximum benefit.

One thing in my mind is that MMRDA should use steel structure so that the sections could be fabricated away in a workshop and not at the site, thus causing minimal inconvenience to the pedestrians. At the same time, the construction should be for a fixed and reasonable period, so that the public do not be face problems for a long time. In conclusion, more numbers of skywalks are certainly welcome at critical locations like the station entry/exits and wide road crossings as we would undoubtedly benefit from it.
Bikram Banerjea, via email

The topography, profiles and demography of the suburbs in Mumbai have changed dramatically in the past 25 years. The unrelenting migrating population has been in the suburbs which have proved to be economical in the housing sector. However, the basic infrastructure has remained same over these years.

There is a huge crowd particularly near the railway stations and bus depots; hence it is absolutely necessary to have skywalks where ever it is feasible. Skywalks will streamline pedestrians, that will ensure there safety and also reduce the chaos.

However, the skywalks should be planned in a proper way so that everyone gets maximum benefit from it. The walkways planned should be structurally strong, aesthetically pleasing and best in quality so that its minimum service life is 50 years. The process should be fast tracked, transparent and fare then only more skywalks would be reality. 
Rajesh Chindarkar, Bhandup East

Yes, more skywalks are required in our suburbs to lessen the sufferings of thousands of pedestrians having lost their right to walk on the footpaths long back. The real question is whether MMRDA will guarantee to keep these skywalks absolutely free from hawkers?

Our experience in the past is that before any plan of this kind is sanctioned, the public interest is made as a cushion and later on, conveniently withdrawn handing over the desired work to the contractors for the reason best known to the authorities.

These skywalks are welcomed as long as they do not become similar to railway bridges where crossing over is only at the mercy of the vendors. Let us have the required patience and perseverance to eat the expected fruit generally forbidden to the common man whose money is spent in the whole process.
Suryakant Bhosle, Mulund East

Yes. Skywalks are the need of the hour. Getting out of the railway station is a harrowing experience. With rickshaws, tongas and hawkers clogging the entrances, one really has to master the art of sneaking past them without any confrontation or injury. The population in our suburbs has quadrupled in the past couple of years but the basic amenities have remained constant.

This paper has, on various occasions, highlighted this problem but as always the authorities are in the habit of giving empty promises. So, the only solution is to have long skywalks constructed around the station areas so that the commuters have easy access to the main roads to reach their destination. 

However, construction should be undertaken with the latest techniques so that it causes least inconvenience to one and all.  It should also be remembered that hawking should be banned on these skywalks and there should be security guards posted 24x7. Nonetheless, provision should also be made for the physically handicapped who too can use the skywalks.  All said and done, skywalks should not become money spinners for the local corporators/politicians and such projects should be undertaken after gauging its need.  
Sunil Achutan, via email

Skywalks offer to meet a longstanding need of the pedestrians who have to perform a lot acrobatics daily to negotiate safely between 'the Devil and the Deep-sea' - the hawkers and motorists.  They are elegant suspension/cantilever overbridges that add a new dimension to the transfer of commuters between trains, buses, taxis and other private vehicles and are meant to disburse passengers from congested areas like railway stations to strategic locations like bus-stops, taxi stands, shopping areas, etc.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has done well to have embarked on a massive programme to construct 50 such skywalks all over the Mumbai Metropolitan Region at a cost of Rs 600 crore. The first 'Walk on the Sky' was opened to the public last year between Bandra and Kalanagar and this proved to be a smashing success. Apart from providing the pedestrians with a pleasant walk through an elevated corridor, lording over all things below, these skywalks have tremendous commercial potential through advertisements, shopping plazas and the like.

It is understood that some 120 locations have been identified in all for constructing Skywalks where the commuter movement is between 1 lakh and 5 lakhs a day. Looking at all this one gets the impression that the MMRDA has taken care of almost all the suburbs and the ones that are left behind now will also be hopefully taken up in due course.
Dr V Subramanyan, via email

Definetely.The authorities are finally concentrating on the need of the residents of the suburbs but there are certain things that they should be really careful about before going ahead with the plan. They should do a thorough survey of the area and then look into the pros and cons of building skywalks at a particular location. They should also seek residents' opinion before going ahead with the plan.

The skywalks should be constructed at a location where they are really required and at some place that will not cause inconvenience to the residents and motorists. If detailed research is done before the construction of any skywalk, it will surely be a boon to all the suburbanites. 
Sushant Malik, Mulund West