City to get 17 skywalks by ‘09

Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) Minister Anil Deshmukh announced, on Saturday, an ambitious two-phase Rs325 crore programme to construct 17 skywalks and a 500 meter subway along GPO road, from CST to P D’mello Road.
The minister also released graphic images of the skywalks, most of which are going to be hanging structures. The construction of all the 17 skywalk projects, including the longest ones at Masjid and between CST and Churchgate will be completed by June, 2009, he claimed. “The  structures will match the aesthetic beauty of heritage structures in the city,” he promised to a query.

Buoyed by the success of its first skywalk between Bandra (E) to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has contracted this work to MSRDC, which is the nodal agency for the Bandra-Worli sealink. MMRDA, which itself is going to build skywalks at more than 25 of the identified 50 stations, is funding the entire project.

Mumbai’s first Bandra (E) to Kalanagar skywalk, which is being given final touches, is also being extended up to Kherwadi junction. The Kherwadi link will be 800 meters long and will cost another Rs 10 crore. The Kherwadi extension of the Bandra skywalk would start from Anant Kanekar Marg police post and will be completed in another four months’ time.

The width of 17 skywalks will vary from 3 meters to 4.50 meters and will have steel railings, powerful lighting, polycarbonate sheds, sitting arrangements, escalators, landscaping, garbage bins, shops, and toilets. “The project has proved to be economical, time-bound, and most commuter-friendly due to its need in the wake of dense pedestrian movement,” he stated, pointing out that the skywalk will have enough space to accommodate demarcated areas for hawkers.

t_chittaranjan@dnaindia.net