MMRDA faces flak from Nationalist Congress Party MP for skywalk

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s claims, that none of their infrastructure projects are undertaken without proper consent from local representatives, have been rubbished by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Sanjay Dina Patil. Patil, on Monday, openly criticised MMRDA officials for not consulting him before beginning work for the 630 metre-long skywalk in Bhandup.

“I was not consulted before the work for this skywalk started. In fact, after the work started, it was me who convinced local residents that if the skywalk is extended up to Agra road, it will be of benefit to them,” Patil said.

Patil was at the MMRDA headquarters to clarify his stand on the issue, which has been wrongly reported by certain sections of the media. The reports have said that Patil was against the skywalk landing at a certain spot that is a part of his property.

Coming down heavily on MMDRA officials, Patil said that the skywalk will not be utilised if not taken up to the main Agra Road. Joint metropolitan commissioner Ashwini Bhide, however, defended the authority and said that each and every project has been approved only after consultation with the local representatives. Bhide also told the delegation led by Patil that MMRDA has cancelled certain skywalks in the past since the local representatives felt that they were not necessary.

The authority is constructing close to 60 skywalks across the metropolitan region and some of these have been vehemently opposed by local residents citing various reasons.