Residents who use the skywalk that connects to the railway station fear this is a 'disaster waiting to happen'

Less than a year after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) constructed the Dahisar west skywalk, cracks and gaps have appeared on the floor of the pathway.

At least three cracks can be seenu00a0-- all within metres of each other. According to locals, these cracks aren't new. Regular users of the skywalk said that cracks had appeared and were repaired three months ago.


The Dahisar skywalk has developed three cracks that run along the
width of the pathway, barely metres from each other. Pic/Nimesh Dave

However, now the cracks have reappeared and locals fear this is a disaster waiting to happen.

Manoj Parulekar, a resident of the area, who uses the skywalk regularly said, "People have been using the bridge for a year. During peak hours, the skywalk is crowded, as it is the only bridge connecting to the railway station." Parulekar said that the MMRDA and the contractors who built the skywalk are neglecting it.

Another passerby claimed that the skywalk wobbles when people walk along that stretch where the cracks have appeared. "The crack is big enough for someone's leg to get stuck in. My children walk on this skywalk and after looking at its condition, I have warned them not to use it and walk on the road instead," said Suresh Dubey, a local resident.

Meanwhile the skywalk that was built at a cost of Rs 15 crore remains a hazard. "We will verify its condition and if necessary will rectify it," said MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawatkhar.

The Authority could ask the contractor to repair it under the defect liability period clause where, for a certain period, the contractor is responsible for the repair and maintenance work before handing it over to MMRDA. The skywalk, being only a year-old falls under that clause.