Shopkeepers, residents oppose shop-and-walk skywalks in city

The MMRDA's plan to introduce shops on its seven- metre-wide skywalks is being opposed by local residents and shopkeepers.

Last year, the MMRDA had announced that they would construct seven-metre skywalks, wherever possible, enabling a shop-and-walk experience for citizens.

Navin Savla, a shopkeeper, is part of the delegation opposing such a skywalk at Bhandup. "We want the MMRDA to construct a four metre wide skywalk instead of a seven-metre one. It will be too congested for people to walk and shop at the same time," argued Savla.

Another shopkeeper, Viren Shah from Grant Road, who is also the secretary of the Feder-ation of Retail Traders Welfare Associations said, "The station road, which runs parallel to Grant Road station is too narrow for a seven-metre-wide skywalk," said Shah.

Shah and Savla, along with some Mulund and Dadar residents, are among shopkeepers who have approached the HC against such skywalks.

MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad confirmed that he had received suggestions for reducing the seven- metre skywalks to four metre ones. "We are going ahead with the skywalk project. We will sort out issues that people have with the Grant Road to Nana Chowk stretch, where a skywalk is necessary to ease traffic congestion."

Skywalk facts
Proposed skywalks with a span of 7-m: Grant Road, Dadar (W), Mulund (W), Kanjurmarg and Bhandup