Locals and shopkeepers say crossing the road has become a nightmare due to fast-moving traffic. “It gets too crowded, and the auto drivers drive recklessly when entering from LBS Marg. It’s dangerous for pedestrians,” said a shop owner, requesting anonymity
Once highly anticipated and heavily used, the bridge is now deserted and partially dismantled since ROB work began. PICS/ATUL KAMBLE
Before the construction of the Vikhroli Road Overbridge (ROB), a skywalk connecting Vikhroli railway station to Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg was built. Once highly anticipated and heavily used, the bridge is now nearly deserted and partially dismantled since ROB work began. The skywalk cuts through PS Soman Road, a narrow, congested lane teeming with autorickshaws picking up passengers from the station. The chaos worsens when buses enter the cramped stretch.
Locals and shopkeepers say crossing the road has become a nightmare due to fast-moving traffic. “It gets too crowded, and the auto drivers drive recklessly when entering from LBS Marg. It’s dangerous for pedestrians,” said a shop owner, requesting anonymity.
As usage of the skywalk has declined, the structure has become a hotspot for illegal activities, especially after dusk. “Drug users loiter around the bridge every evening. It becomes unsafe after sunset. What’s the point of this skywalk if it’s being misused for unlawful purposes?” said Sanjay Yelve, president of Vikhrolikar Vikas Manch (VVM), a citizen group focused on local improvement.
The VVM has urged authorities to dismantle the unused bridge entirely. The structure, built over a decade ago, has undergone several changes but is now being seen as a source of traffic congestion. “The skywalk sits right in the middle of the road and causes major obstruction,” said Mario Rodrigues, a VVM member.
A shopkeeper pointed out, “We were made to shift our shops over 10 metres back three years ago for road expansion. But the road hasn’t been widened yet. Some encroachments remain, and hawkers have now occupied the space we vacated. No one is asking them to move.”
Many of these hawkers run food stalls with gas cylinders. “They don’t have any licenses to store gas tanks in the open. If there’s a leak or explosion, it could damage the bridge,” warned a local resident who claims to be one of the few still using the skywalk.
Originally constructed by the MMRDA as part of a city-wide skywalk project, the bridge was handed over to the BMC in 2015 following a joint meeting. But now, confusion prevails over who holds responsibility for the skywalk, with both MMRDA and BMC officials stating they require each other’s approval for any changes.
A senior BMC bridges department official told mid-day that during a December 2024 site visit, the MMRDA had requested a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to link railway stations to Metro stations using existing skywalks. The BMC granted this NOC and MMRDA floated tenders accordingly.
“After complaints from residents about the abandoned skywalk, we have called for another site visit this week,” the official added. “If MMRDA confirms they still need the bridge for connectivity, we won’t demolish it. But if they say they don’t, we’ll proceed with removing it as per the residents’ request.”
mid-day contacted both MMRDA and BMC’s roads department, but did not receive a response till press time.
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