In yet another example of poor planning, the longest skywalk in the country built at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, has failed to deliver, as there are hardly any takers for it.
After seven months since its inauguration, the skywalk constructed at a cost of `36 crore has proved to be a dud investment without serving any purpose or use to the public at large.
According to the locals, the skywalk always wears a deserted look and is barely used by 500-600 people in the day. Even the escalator built near the skywalk has failed to attract pedestrians.
“This skywalk has proved to be a monumental waste of money as this has been eating up an expenditure of more than `60,000 per month alone for the electricity it consumes. Additionally, senior citizens feel insecure to use it during the night, as there is no security deployed on the skywalk,” said Ravi Srivastav, district convener of the Aam Adami Party and RTI activist.
He added, “Instead of such a phantom skywalk, a couple of crossover bridges with escalators could have proved beneficial for commuters who, while crossing the highway, face the danger of getting hit by speeding vehicles.”
Supporting his view, Vallabh Varshney, a doctor, said, “In one word, I would say it is a criminal waste of public money.”
However, Cidco spokesperson Mohan Ninave maintains that the skywalk has been able to prevent deaths, caused while crossing highways. He said, “Railway commuters have started using this skywalk fairly.”
The citizens led by the Aam Aadmi Party activists had forcibly opened it in the first week of December 2012; it was later inaugurated by Union minister Sharad Pawar, after a wait of approximately five months. The skywalk runs parallel to the highway between Bharati Vidyapeeth upto the entrance of Pravesh Marg and then along Pravesh Marg up till Utsav Chowk.
Mr Srivastav said that the opinion of the local people should be taken into account before going for such projects. “Construction of roads, bridges, culvert, subway, community centres, schools, police station and other utilities should be finalised by local committees like Mohalla Sabha or Gram Sabha, and not by bureaucrats.”