New Skywalk in Bandra East Opens, Promising Safer and Faster Pedestrian Movement

Mumbai Suburbs Get a Major Connectivity Boost as Ashish Shelar Inaugurates Landmark Pedestrian Facility

In a significant step towards strengthening pedestrian infrastructure in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs, a newly constructed skywalk at Bandra (East) was inaugurated on January 26, 2026, by Ashish Shelar—Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, and Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban District.

The state-of-the-art skywalk has been built to ease daily movement for thousands of citizens commuting between Bandra Railway Station (East), Bandra Court, Bandra–Kurla Complex (BKC), MHADA offices, and the District Collector’s office—one of the most congested civic and commercial zones in Mumbai.

Constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under directions of the Hon’ble High Court, the skywalk is designed as a high-quality, durable, and citizen-centric public facility equipped with modern safety features.

Built for Safety, Speed, and Accessibility

Addressing the gathering, Ashish Shelar said the state government is consistently working to make suburban Mumbai’s infrastructure more robust, secure, and people-oriented. He highlighted that the direct integration of the skywalk with the pedestrian bridge at Bandra Railway Station (East) and its safe crossing over the Western Express Highway near Kalanagar Junction would significantly reduce accident risks.

“This skywalk will save commuting time, enhance pedestrian safety, and substantially reduce congestion on Anant Kanekar Road,” he noted, adding that it would bring long-term relief to daily office-goers, litigants, and residents.

Engineering Feat Under Challenging Condition

The newly inaugurated skywalk stretches approximately 680 metres in length with an average width of 5.40 metres. To ensure ease of access, it features four staircases, two escalators, and 14 CCTV cameras for continuous surveillance.

Officials explained that construction was particularly challenging due to heavy traffic on the Western Express Highway, dense pedestrian movement below, restricted nighttime work windows, and utility line relocations. Despite these constraints, the project was completed within the stipulated timeline, marking a notable civil engineering achievement.

Officials and Engineers Felicitated

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Varun Sardesai, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Infrastructure) Girish Nikam, and H-East Ward Assistant Commissioner Mridula Ande.

Engineers who completed the project in record time—including Executive Engineer Namdev Ravkale, Assistant Engineer Prashant Javale, and Junior Engineer Amit Dasurkar—were formally felicitated by the Guardian Minister.

Ready for Public Use

According to Abhijit Bangar, all mandatory structural stability certificates, safety approvals, and no-objection clearances from the Railways have been secured. The skywalk has been opened to the public from Republic Day, reinforcing Mumbai’s commitment to safer and smarter urban mobility.