To help pedestrians negotiate busy streets, the city built skywalks. Now it wonders whether the numbers justify the investment.
The much-publicised Mumbai Skywalk Project to improve access to crowded railway stations and in high-concentration commercial areas by means of elevated pedestrian walkways has been wound up due to a poor response from Mumbaikars, opposition from various political parties, and from experts, and above all because of the delays in its implementation. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the state undertaking involved in planning and coordination, has finally announced, after the completion of 36 planned skywalks, that no such projects will be undertaken in the future. The total estimated cost of the project was Rs 607.21 crore.
This is despite the fact that the 35 skywalks, near 26 railway stations in the city and metropolitan region, are used by more than 1.2 million pedestrians a day. This figure shows an increase of 200,000 a day, compared to numbers in the survey conducted by MMRDA last December. “The number of skywalkers is growing, for sure,” says Rahul Asthana, the Metropolitan Commissioner. “I’m of the opinion that the concept of skywalk is avant-garde — ahead of its time. It’s also a long-term investment. People, generally, are a bit averse to change. But considering the advantages, especially during the monsoon, and the safety aspects, I’m sure Mumbaikars will soon embrace skywalks as anticipated by us.”
Nawab Malik, a legislator from the Nationalist Congress Party, insisted that the entire planning of the skywalks was wrong. “Instead of skywalks, MMRDA should have constructed under-ways from congested stations up to 1 km distance, where hawkers could be accommodated and the freeway used by pedestrians. Instead, MMRDA insisted on the implementation of skywalks but failed to take into consideration the fact that Mumbaikars are not habituated to foot over-bridges.”
The numbers prove this hypothesis. MMRDA admits that some skywalks are not being utilised to potential — such as in Bhandup (West), with just 19,006 pedestrians a day, Kandivali (East) with 16,930, Grant Road with 16,649, Badlapur (East and West) with 16,594, Sion with 16,000, Bhayendar with 15,878, Thane (East) with 14,324, Ambernath with 12,000, Kanjurmarg with 11,869, Goregaon (West) with 7,636, Vasai Road (East) with 7,616, and Andheri with 6,895. MMRDA thinks, however, that these skywalks, too, will soon be frequented. The study shows that skywalk user numbers are rising.
Arun Mokashi, a transport specialist who is currently advising on a World Bank project in Andhra Pradesh, shares MMRDA’s viewpoint and says the skywalk concept is essential in a metropolis like Mumbai. “You cannot avoid skywalks. Even though the usage at some of the existing skywalks is low, it is bound to pick up,” he says. “These skywalks have come up after demand estimation and also after taking into consideration the crucial issue of pedestrian safety.” Mokashi reiterated that the safety and security of pedestrians are of the utmost importance.
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According to MMRDA, there are some skywalks which accommodate more than 100,000 commuters daily. Those at Bandra (East and West, including Extension) record 190,478 commuters a day. The skywalks at Santa Cruz (East and West) record 154,363. The Kalyan (West) skywalk is in third place with 137,870 commuters. Wadala’s skywalk follows closely, with 110,895 commuters a day.
“The figures indicate rising usage and the surge of walkers during peak hours, contrary to the perception that the skywalks have limited usage,” says Ashwini Bhide, Additional Metropolitan Commissioner.