As the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is yet to start work on the proposed Mulund skywalk,a delegation of representatives of public and NGOs met metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on Monday to urge the development body to start the work soon. The meeting was fruitful. According to MMRDA,there is need for a skywalk and it is in the interest of people. If people want to buy things from shops,they would not use the skywalk, said Prakash Paddikal,member of Hill Road Residents Welfare Association (HIRWA),a Mulund-based NGO. There were discussions and presentations in the meeting. We have always maintained that there is a need for the skywalk. Whether to protect the interest of 2.8 lakh people or 50-60 shopkeepers the decision will be taken by the authority. It may take another month and a half to take the decision, said A K Pahal,additional chief engineer,MMRDA. In April,a section of shopkeepers had protested against the construction of proposed skywalk alleging that it would affect their business. The work on the skywalk was stalled since they had political parties support too. According to sources,nearly 60,000 people are expected to use the proposed 1,900-metre skywalk from Mulund station to Mehul theatre. According to Padikkal,population in Mulund has doubled and there is a need for urgent means of grade separation for pedestrians. The government should be in favour of development. Residents have doubled in Mulund and it is expected to grow further. There has to be such infrastructure available, Padikkal said.
