Ensure skywalks are safe for all pedestrians

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Mumbai's skywalks, envisioned as safe and efficient pedestrian corridors are increasingly failing to serve their purpose, especially for women. About 37 of them were built in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in multiple phases at a total cost of around R900 crore, our April 8 report, supported by pictures, stated.

Incomplete construction, poor maintenance, and lack of security have rendered many of these structures underutilised and, in many cases, unsafe. Commuters, especially women, report issues ranging from non-functional escalators and broken lighting to the presence of anti-social elements in poorly lit stretches.

A ground reality check of several skywalks has pointed most of all to poor visibility. This, in turn, spawns crime on these skywalks. Deserted, poorly lit stretches see anti-social elements abound.

There are women who say upfront in our report that they do not dare to take these skywalks, especially during certain times of the day when crowds may have thinned. This is a poor commentary on a city simply because by being unsafe, half of Mumbai's demography, inadvertent though it may be, is unable to access a part of the city. These were made with the money if taxpaying citizens, including women, so it is a shame that they seem out of bounds for them, not by rule but because of certain realities like poor lighting.

Leaders did say that they are trying to upgrade this infra arm, yet, at least basic repairs, lighting, etc, should be done pronto. Decongesting the city, safer streets include skywalks. Make them count in overall development.