Roofless Santracruz skywalk can’t be used in day due to heat; evening use restricted due to bad lighting and unsavoury elements on the bridge
With the roof not being installed, people are forced to walk under direct heat. PICS/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
Pedestrians in Santacruz East are facing a new problem in the area due to incomplete infrastructure in the form of a skywalk on the Jawaharlal Nehru Road, which completely lacks a roof. The skywalk connects Santacruz West to Santacruz East, starting from SV Road in the West to the Military Camp in the East.
No respite from heat
During the day, intense heat from the sun makes it difficult to use the skywalk. Reynold Abraham, a resident of the area, said, “Many choose to walk on the road because without a roof, it doesn’t provide much respite to us.”
One of several alcohol bottles seen lying on the bridge
The lack of shade makes walking on the skywalk as difficult as walking on the road as there is nothing protecting pedestrians from the heat. In fact, walking on the road helps because there is at least the shade from buildings that shields us from the heat,” Abraham added.
When this reporter visited the skywalk, only a few people were seen using it to avoid traffic on the road below. “Using this skywalk drains us. From SV Road to the Vakola signal is properly shaded, but beyond Valoka signal, there is nothing,” said a pedestrian. The lack of a roof also caused several issues during the monsoon, as pedestrians would end up getting drenched if it rained unexpectedly. Daily users like Abraham say that there is a “desperate need” for a roof.
Gets worse after dark
Dimly lit access, blocked by hawkers. PIC/MADHULIKA RAM KAVATTUR
While many have faced issues due to the missing roof in the afternoon heat, and rain, the evening brings troubles along the entire stretch of the skywalk. “Many who try to walk back home in the evening from any side of the skywalk encounter hawkers blocking their path, or people sleeping on the skywalk, forcing the whole walking crowd to manoeuvre around them,” said Abraham.
Hawkers block the path with their wares
According to Abraham, he has never seen women walking on the skywalk alone after 7 pm, once it gets dark. Confirming this, this reporter met three women — Divya Ganeshan, Madhumita Arjun, and Sneha Arjun — who said they use the skywalk mostly when they have to walk to and from the market.
Waste dumped on the skywalk
“We mostly avoid using the skywalk after it gets dark, and the rare times we have to get from one side to another, we walk on the footpath along the road,” Ganeshan said, talking about their usage of the skywalk.
A number of people are always found sleeping on the skywalk
Abraham claims that in the evenings, he has also witnessed people consuming alcohol and being publicly indecent on the skywalk. This reporter also saw several alcohol bottles lying around on the skywalk, and also a used syringe, which was randomly lying in a corner.
People cross the bridge in pitch darkness. PIC/MADHULIKA RAM KAVATTUR
mid-day contacted the H East ward office regarding the issue, to ascertain why no roof has been installed yet, and why no action had been initiated against those sleeping and consuming alcohol on the skywalk. However, no response was received till the time of going to press.
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