Mumbai: Four years on, Bandra skywalk still a bother

Encroached roads and uneven footpaths in Bandra East. Pic/Satej Shinde

Even after four years, pedestrians in Bandra continue to bear the brunt of the off limits Bandra skywalk which was shut down by the BMC. No construction has yet begun, although the work order was approved last February.

Uneven footpaths, potholed roads and wading through chaotic traffic on the jam-packed station road on the East side are the only options for now. The skywalk, the city's first, built in 2008, was shut in 2019, just after the collapse of the CSMT foot over bridge. Until then, it had the highest footfall in the city.

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The BMC decided to rebuild one arm of 385 m over Anant Kanekar Marg, from the station to Bandra court, at the cost of R19 crore. Including monsoons, construction work was to be completed within 18 months from February last year. But not a nail has moved.

"There is filth on the road. Garages and shops have encroached too, taking over the remaining walking space," complained Anil Trimbakkar, former Bandra corporator. "We are waiting for a design change in the plan to give the skywalk more strength," said an engineer from the state bridge corporation.

He added that the change will increase the project cost by at least 30 per cent, and requires a nod from the higher-ups. "A reply is awaited to our proposal, only after which work can begin," he said. Sandip Kadam, who regularly travels from the area rued that "the government is only wasting money on beautification while basic amenities are amiss."