16 skywalks nixed

Mumbai: The authorities have been quick on the feet to cancel 16 skywalks in the city just a day after chief minister Ashok Chavan said the government would review unfeasible skywalks.The skywalks are being cancelled due to local resistance, though they are techno-economically feasible, said an official at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) — under which 61 skywalks are being constructed.

Among the areas where skywalks have been cancelled are Mahim and Mahalaxmi. “While in Mahim, residents and the MLA had differences regarding the alignment of the skywalk, in Mahalaxmi, it would have posed a problem for the proposed third phase of the metro rail. In the other places, the problems pertained to permission from civic and railway authorities,” said Ashwini Bhide, joint metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA. The priority now, he said, is to complete 17 skywalks before May 31.

About the Santacruz (East) skywalk not being useful enough since it does not cross the Western Express Highway, Bhide said the authority was considering to extend it beyond the highway, but “it may take time since several permissions will be needed, including one from the traffic department”. “Our target is to complete the project by May end. But we can continue extending some skywalks as per need.”