13 October,2026 11:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
The roofless stretch along Nehru Road connects the Western Express Highway to the St Anthony’s Church junction in Vakola. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Months after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) floated a tender to install a roof over the eastern stretch of the Santacruz skywalk, residents are still waiting for work to begin. The civic body says the design is ready, but the project is awaiting approval from the Standing Committee, with work expected to start before the 2027 monsoon.
The roofless stretch along Nehru Road connects the Western Express Highway to the St Anthony's Church junction in Vakola. Residents say the lack of cover leaves pedestrians exposed to intense heat and rain, forcing some to use traffic-heavy roads instead.
Ivan Pais, a resident and member of the St Anthony's Street Welfare Association, said, "My main doubt is why it will take until the next monsoon for the work to begin. But anyway, we want the work to be done. I have contacted multiple authorities on the matter. Our corporator told me that the Standing Committee should pass it in about two weeks, so we are looking forward to the work starting." He said he would follow up with the authorities again after two weeks to seek a firm start date.
The skywalk extension had remained without a roof and adequate lighting for years. Residents repeatedly approached civic authorities to address both issues on the pedestrian route. In March this year, following reports by mid-day, the BMC installed lights along the stretch. However, the roof remains pending, leaving commuters without protection from the weather.
The demand has gained urgency amid increasingly difficult summer and monsoon conditions. Residents say pedestrians must choose between using the exposed skywalk and walking along Nehru Road until the Vakola junction on the Western Express Highway.
A senior engineer in the BMC's Bridges Department, told mid-day that the roof design was ready but the project was awaiting Standing Committee approval.
He said, "The design for the roof and all is already in place. Currently, we are waiting for the Standing Committee to approve it. All the paperwork and other necessary work will be done in about 15 days to a month, after which the work will start by the monsoon of 2027."
