House call: stop skywalks we don’t need

Davkhare demanded that the authorities should look into complaints,if any,from citizens on such skywalks.

Davkhare also alleged large-scale corruption,not only in the construction of skywalks but also in the setting up of public toilets under the ‘Nirlabh Sauchalay’ scheme. Davkhare has already complained to Ratnakar Gaikwad,chief of the MMRDA.

Minister Hasan Mushrif,in his reply,said the corruption charges would be investigated and grievances of public representatives and residents on skywalks would be heard. Mushrif said that 60 per cent of the work had been completed.

Mushrif said the work on skywalks has been stopped on the orders of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. He said a team lead by Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray had met the chief minister and said incomplete work of pillars and foundation could lead to flooding. Mushrif said it was on Uddhav Thackeray’s request that the work had been stopped.

Opposition leaders blamed the government for tagging its “discredit” of incomplete work on Uddhav.

Sena leader Deepak Sawant raised concerns about the skywalk at Santacruz railway station. He said citizens don’t need it and raised questions on the funds being used for its construction.