BMC to raze, rebuild part of Mumbai’s 1st skywalk at Bandra; traffic to BKC to be hit

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to demolish and rebuild a part of the city’s first skywalk in Bandra

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to demolish and rebuild a part of the city’s first skywalk in Bandra. BMC has taken the decision owing to the structural defects pointed out by a third-party auditor.

The stretch of the skywalk between the eastern side of Bandra station and the WEH will be rebuilt at the cost of around ₹16.2 crore. (HT FILE)

Owing to the demolition and reconstruction, traffic on the station road leading to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is likely to be hit.

The skywalk starts from SV Road in Bandra (West) up to the BKC junction. According to BMC officials, the stretch of the skywalk between the eastern side of Bandra station and the Western Express Highway will be rebuilt at the cost of around ₹16.2 crore. BMC has already floated bids for the work, and the last date for submitting bids is September 13. The civic body has set a target of 18 months, including the monsoon period, for the demolition and reconstruction of the skywalk.

The civic body plans to reconstruct the skywalk as the difference in expenditure between carrying out major repairs and rebuilding it is narrow.

The skywalk was constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and later handed over to BMC for maintenance in 2015.

During the 2019 monsoon season, a portion of the skywalk at Bandra (East) collapsed, injuring a woman. Following the incident, an audit was ordered into the stability of several skywalks. In August 2019, HT had reported that BMC was considering the demolition of a portion of the skywalk to make it structurally stable, but the execution of the plan was delayed owing to the Covid-induced lockdown.

Apart from the Bandra skywalk, 23 more skywalks are due to undergo major repairs or reconstruction. Following the Himalaya Bridge collapse at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in March 2019, BMC had appointed the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) to suggest major repairs for 24 skywalks, including the one at Bandra.