Mumbai Skywalk Project
| Mumbai Skywalk Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background | |
| Owner | MMRDA |
| Locale | Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India |
| Transit type | Footbridge |
| Number of lines | 37 |
| Daily ridership | 565,000 daily (August 2010) |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 24 June 2008 |
The Mumbai Skywalk Project is a series of skyways for pedestrian use in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The skywalks connect Mumbai Suburban Railway stations or other high-concentration commercial areas with various heavily targeted destinations. The purpose of the skywalks is efficient dispersal of commuters from congested areas to strategic locations, such as bus stations, taxi stands, shopping areas, etc. and vice versa.
The first skywalk was inaugurated on 24 June 2008.[1] There are 36 skywalks in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The average daily foot count for 23 skywalks in August 2010 was estimated at about 565,000.[2]
History
Mumbai's Suburban Railway already has one of the highest passenger densities of any urban railway system in the world. With almost 7 million passengers using the system daily, as well as the associated transport interchanges in their vicinity (bus stations, taxi stands, autorickshaw stands, car parks, etc.) the suburban railway stations are the most congested areas of the city. The problem is further aggravated by the presence of hawkers and parked vehicles, making the commute hazardous for pedestrians. In 2007, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) conceived of the skywalks in response to these problems.[3]
MMRDA planned to build 50 skywalks in the first phase, ranging from 1 to 2 miles in length.[4] The first 18 skywalks were to be built by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).[3] Following feedback and criticism of some of the skywalks based on the proposed routes or other conflicting development plans, 17 of these were cancelled and others added.
The first phase of Mumbai Skywalks consisting of 50 skywalks was expected to cost about 
607.21 crore (US$100 million).[4][5] The proposed Mahim East skywalk was challenged by the Mahim Skywalk Protest Committee. MMRDA announced in June 2009 that it was cancelling the proposed Mahim East skywalk due to "alignment conflicts with the Dharavi Redevelopment Project".
The first Skywalk was completed in June 2008 from Bandra station to Kalanagar Junction, measuring 1.3 km. It is used by over 100,000 pedestrians daily.[6] The Kharghar skywalk is the longest skywalk in India and one of the longest in the world. It connects SVP Road to Chandavarkar Road via the Borivali Railway Station.[citation needed]
MMRDA recovered some of the cost of maintenance through the sale of advertising space on the walkways.
Criticism
The Skywalk project has been severely criticised for improper planning leading to poor utility. According to a footfall survey conducted in 2010 at certain skywalks such as the one at Kanjurmarg and Bandra by the Mumbai Transformation Support Unit, a State Government think tank, it was found that skywalks were being used by very few people. Subsequently, MMRDA took a policy decision to not build more skywalks in the city.[7]
Following the inauguration ceremony for the Eastern Freeway on 13 June 2013, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar demanded a survey of skywalks in the city as "most are not used by pedestrians". Pawar stated that the skywalks were being used as meeting point or for morning walks only, and that the spaces below them have been occupied by hutments and hawkers.[8]
It has been alleged that most skywalks were built without feasibility surveys and an estimated 800 crore (US$130 million) has been spent on them.[8]
Skywalks
There are currently 37 skywalks in Mumbai.[9]
| S. No. | Location | Length (m) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ambarnath (W) | 350 |
| 2 | Andheri (E) | 581 |
| 3 | Bandra (E) Court | 494 |
| 4 | Bandra (E) – Kalanagar | 970 |
| 5 | Bandra (W) | 864 |
| 6 | Badlapur (E) | 449.12 |
| 7 | Badlapur (W) | 391.5 |
| 8 | Bhandup (W) | 465 |
| 9 | Bhayandar (W) | 225 |
| 10 | Borivali (W) | 1395 |
| 11 | Chembur | 323 |
| 12 | Cotton Green | 385 |
| 13 | Dahisar (E) | 410 |
| 14 | Dahisar (W) | 850 |
| 15 | Goregaon (W) | 625 |
| 16 | Ghatkopar (W) | 315 |
| 17 | Grant Road | 650 |
| 18 | Kalyan (E) | 637 |
| 19 | Kalyan (W) | 1287 |
| 20 | Kandivali (E) | 1025 |
| 21 | Kanjurmarg (E) | 222 |
| 22 | Mira Road (E) | 525 |
| 23 | Santacruz (E) | 685 |
| 24 | Santacruz (W) | 438 |
| 25 | Sion | 1041 |
| 26 | Thane (E) | 1350 |
| 27 | Ulhasnagar (E) | 445 |
| 28 | Ulhasnagar (W) | 890 |
| 29 | Vasai Road (W) | 615 |
| 30 | Vidyavihar (E) | 191 |
| 31 | Vidyavihar (W) | 149 |
| 32 | Vikhroli (W) | 440 |
| 33 | Vile Parle (W) | 460 |
| 34 | Virar (E) | 285 |
| 35 | Virar (W) | 630 |
| 36 | Wadala | 750 |
| 37 | Kharghar | 1780 |
References
- ↑
- ↑ "24Main Edition-pg9-0.qxd (Page 1)" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "MMRDA – Projects – Skywalk". Mmrdamumbai.org. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bellman, Eric (19 January 2010). "Mumbai Builds 'Skywalks,' Elevated Walkways That Let Pedestrians Move Above Crowded Streets - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ↑ "Proposed SKYWALKS in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)". MMRDA. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ↑ "Mumbai pedestrians can walk safe in the sky". The Hindu Business Line. 23 November 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ↑ "With new chief, MMRDA may revive old concepts". Indian Express. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Ajit Pawar demands review of skywalks". The Times Of India. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ↑ "Skywalk status". MMRDA. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2013-06-24.