Audit of 24 skywalks in Mumbai to bridge safety gap

Experts from the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) will study the skywalks to ensure they are structurally fit for use.

After bridges and foot overbridges (FOBs), it is time for skywalks now to be audited. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will conduct a safety audit of the 24 skywalks in the city. Experts from the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) will study the skywalks to ensure they are structurally fit for use.

BMC on Tuesday shut the foot overbridge (FoB) connecting the northern end of the Charni Road railway station to the gate of Saifee Hospital, citing safety reasons. (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

This development comes a week after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) shut down the Bandra skywalk, citing safety concerns after three women were injured when panels fell off the skywalk. A BMC official said on condition of anonymity, “We have written to VJTI and after we receive their concurrence and the cost estimations for the structural audit, the work will be assigned by taking permission from municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi.”

According to BMC officials, there are around 24 skywalks in the western, eastern suburbs and south Mumbai. Approximately 56 skywalks were planned for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), but only 39 were constructed by the MMRDA between 2008 and 2012. Of the 39, around 24 are in Mumbai and maintained by the BMC. The remainder are in Thane, Vasai, Virar, Ulhasnagar, Mira Road, Bhayander and other neighbouring areas.

“The audit is considered necessary as skywalks are similar to bridges and in a couple of instances, structural defects have been identified. Hence, we feel it will be safe to conduct structural audit to ensure,” said the BMC official.

Last year, the BMC had shut down the skywalk in Dahisar (West) because it was deemed unsafe due to structural defects. In March this year, after seven were killed in the collapse of the Himalaya FOB near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), the commissioner of MMRDA had written to the BMC, suggesting a structural audit of skywalks be undertaken. The BMC had ordered a re-audit of all 296 FOBs and road over bridges (ROBs) in Mumbai after the collapse of the Himalaya FOB.

On March 25, 2019, MMRDA commissioner RA Rajeev had written to the BMC, “Considering the recent incidents of the failure of old foot over bridge structures in Mumbai, it would be appropriate to take a review of these skywalks by conducting site inspections, maintenance and structural audit etc.”.

BMC shuts Charni Road FoB after structural defects found
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday closed down the foot overbridge (FoB) connecting northern end of the Charni Road station to the gate of Saifee Hospital, citing safety concerns.

However, BMC officials said it is not determined till when the bridge will be closed. According to BMC, certain structural defects have been detected in the deck below the FoB.

A BMC official said the bridge at the south end of the station is being used by pedestrians and may be used as an alternative should the north-end bridge be closed to the public.

“The majority crowd that will be affected due to the closure of north-end bridge will be those heading towards Saifee Hospital or Hinduja College,” said the official.

In January 2018, the BMC had started constructing the FOB at the south end after a portion of the stairs in the old bridge collapsed in 2017.

After the collapse of the Himalaya FOB, BMC re-audited the 296 bridges in the city and found 29 to be dangerous.

Eight of these have been demolished.