When I first heard the news of the completion of the skywalk project linking Bandra station to Bandra –kurla complex (BKC), I had a longing to visit the Bandra skywalk. And the opportunity came up this week, a month after it was open to the pedestrians.   

Bandra skywalk is the first project to have been completed among the many such skywalk project coming up all over Mumbai.  It was built by the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority) at an estimated cost of Rs 13.63 crore.  The Bandra skywalk is built 6 metre above ground level and is 4 metre wide.  It is a 1.3 Km long stretch running parallel to the Slums near Bandra station, the Indian oil office and above the Western Express highway.  The entry and exit point is the Bandra station and BKC.

The idea of building skywalk is for quick thinning out of commuters from congested places like Railway stations, Bus stops, Taxi stands and shopping areas and off the roads which would help decongest the crowded areas.   

In the past people had to depend on the State owned BEST bus for going  from Bandra station to BKC.  The long serpentine line at the bus stand for boarding the bus was a sheer waste of time.  The Rickshaws had absolute monopoly on this route, taking one for a ride, choosing longer routes and fleecing the passengers. Now that the skywalk is in place, the commuters would be largely benefited.

The good news is that MMRDA is undertaking 50 such Sky-walks projects in and round Mumbai at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore.

I am a tireless walker who covers minimum of 2 to 3 Km daily stretch on the Mumbai footpath.  I avoid boarding the BEST bus by skipping 3 to 5 bus stops.  Whenever I visit my bank at Dadar I walk up to Matunga which is about 2.5 km.  And being at Matunga, not having hot filter coffee at Udipi Hotel is akin to a religious person missing a visit to the local temple.  When I visit the town, I cover the whole stretch from VT to Colaba by foot, I know it is daunting task and at the end of the day it drains you of whatever energy is left but the sheer exhilarating experience of walking is too tempting for me.  As a photographer walking on the streets gives me more photo-opportunity. The positive side of walking is that it helps keeps me fit and healthy and avoid falling sick thus I save on medical bills which is a costly affair in city of Mumbai.  

   I avoid taking my vehicle except going long distance alongside with my family.  When I look at people especially the car owners and motorist using vehicles even if they have to walk the next door grocery shop I think they are doing a disservice to their health.  Sadly we have not cultivated the habit of walking to the next-gen.  I see many of the college going guys reluctant to walk.  There is no substitute to walking as one of the best antidote to stay fit and healthy.

Skywalk has many advantage in terms of saving your time and money.  At the same time in today’s bustling life of Mumbai it would give opportunity to many who has no time to exercise and can sky walk.  With many more such skywalk being built in Mumbai I hope it would imbibe the culture of walking in people, like it exist in the villages.  Next time you skywalk think of the therapeutic services it does to your health in making you stay fit and healthy. Happy Walking.  

                                                                                                                                  Rajen Nair