40% users desert skywalks, experts blame poor planning Footfalls Down On 26, Up Only On 10: Study

 After 36 skywalks have been set up across the city at a cost of Rs 750 crore, Mumbaikars seem to be less than enthused about the facilities, with as many as 26 of them showing dropping footfalls over a period of one year. 

    An in-house survey by consultants of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which built all 36 skywalks, showed increasing use of only 10 skywalks, with the one at Goregaon (West) showing a steep rise of 32,000 more users (see box for details). 
    Among other factors, the contrasting figures clearly indicate that the skywalks have not been designed or built according to the commuting needs of most people. Experts called this a lack of social engineering and blamed the planners for not adopting a holistic approach. 
    Shockingly, it has been revealed that feasibility studies and pedestrian behavioral patterns were not studied in depth except for 10-12 skywalks that were initially planned by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). 
    A copy of the survey, obtained by TOI from Mantralaya sources, showed that against 12.08 lakh commuters using all the skywalks in June 2011, the May 2012 footfall showed a decline of around 5 lakh pedestrians or almost 40% of users. Only 7.4 lakh commuters were using them in June 2012. 
    MMRDA has now shelved plans for 31 skywalks (costing nearly Rs 700 crore) following allegations of "improper designs" and "wastage of money". 
    But the idea of skywalks hasn't been dismissed by Mumbai. A recent survey by students of St Xavier's College here showed that 62% of their respondents found skywalks very beneficial and 64.8% agreed that they wereuseful in commuting. The biggest message they got was the need for security on the long skywalks. Many said they avoided it in non-peak hours because they were being misused by beggars, hawkers, drug addicts and other antisocial elements. 
    Transport expert Ashok Datar said the intention of skywalks was good but not the approach. "They could have been built in phases after indepth commuter survey and feasibility. It looks as if they have been built with an engineering and investment-oriented approach. Issues of safety, discipline, and other pedestrian behaviours should have been considered. They lack social engineering," he said. 
    Social activist Rishi Agarwal said skywalks did not fit into the pedestrian policy and to judge their use, a proper third-party survey was a must. "I think to gauge the correct pedestrian trend on skywalks, a proper third party survey by a reputed institution over a longer period of time is needed. It is difficult to come at any conclusion over the project consultants' survey carried out only in two different months of the year," said Ashwini Bhide, the joint MMRDA commissioner. 
    In May, there is always a drop in the number of students and academic institution staff using pedestrian facilities because of holidays. Moreover, at a few locations, skywalks are not attached to foot overbridges or stations directly, resulting in less-than-expected response, she added. 
    But a senior MMRDA official admitted that most of the skywalks, except for those 10-12 initial efforts, lacked proper planning. "Had the feasibility for the remaining skywalks been done properly, they would have been a greater success. I think studying pedestrian patterns — how they disperse and pour in — could have helped in a bigger turnout on the skywalks," he said.