Mumbai:
Commuters planning to avail the services offered by the under-construction metro railway may soon tread on lofty heights. In order to provide better connectivity to the commuters using the metro railway, the Mumbai metropolitan regional development authority (MMRDA), is planning to connect metro line one, between Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar and metro line two, between Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd with a skywalk at the Indian Oil junction, where the two lines will intersect each other.
Speaking to MiD DAY, an official from the MMRDA said, "A look at the master plan of the metro project will show us that the various lines meet and intersect at different points. Line one of the metro railway will be intersecting line two at the Indian Oil junction, or D N Nagar junction. The volume of traffic in this area is extremely high during peak hours. A skywalk here is a good idea, as it will provide pedestrians a safe and convenient way of negotiating the junction."
The heavy traffic in this area can be attributed to the fact that J P Road, which leads to Andheri, meets the New Link Road, leading in from Bandra, at this very junction. During peak hours it becomes almost impossible for pedestrians to walk on the stretch, or cross the road. Since there are a number of schools in this area, pedestrians have been demanding a skywalk, for the sake of the general safety and convenience of pedestrians.
Asked about the plans, MMRDA joint project director, Dilip Kawatkar said, "These plans have been chalked out in order to facilitate the commuters, who might face problems after getting off the metro trains. This will offer them greater connectivity to other areas and ensure that commuting is hassle-free."
More than Rs 4 crore will be poured into the construction of the skywalk, which will reach out in several directions. One arm of the skywalk will lead to Four Bungalows, one arm towards C D Barfiwala College, while another will extend towards the Apna Bazaar area. At present the plan is only on paper. Concrete work will begin only when both lines become operational. An official said, "This skywalk will come up only when the construction work commences at the D N Nagar station on the second line of the metro. At present the ground work is yet to take off." Recently, the Mumbai Metro Transport Private Limited (MMTPL) closed a financial deal to begin work on the second line. Authorities are yet to grant right-of-way for 200 m of the first Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line.
Gaurav Bane (24), a resident of Veera Desai area said, "There are a number of schools in the area, such as A H Wadia, C D Barfiwala and a BMC school. A skywalk is the need of the hour, as it will help school children to easily cross the roads at the Indian Oil junction. It is heartening that the MMRDA is planning to build a skywalk once both the metro lines are operational. This will also be of immense convenience to commuters who use the metro services and get off at the busy Indian Oil junction, or the Azad Nagar metro station."
Omkar Tompe (26), working with a mutual funds firm opined, "Looking at the terrible space crunch at the Indian Oil junction, I don't feel there is any need for a skywalk. What would truly help commuters are well-built, broad footpaths, free of encroachment by hawkers."