Mumbai, Aug. 3 -- The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed nearly 90 per cent of a first-of-its-kind multimodal elevated pedestrian corridor at Mahalaxmi that will include moving walkways. The authority said the project is designed to ease transfers between Metro, Monorail and suburban railway services at a busy interchange. Work on the facility comes as the city expands its Metro network and seeks better integration with other modes.

The corridor will connect the Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk Monorail station, the Mahalaxmi Metro station on the Aqua Line and the Mahalaxmi station on the Western Railway suburban network. The 283-metre-long skywalk will be fitted with six travelators that together span 176 metres and enable level transfers without descending to congested streets. The bridge has been designed to carry heavy commuter volumes while improving accessibility.

The 11-metre-wide structure will include two passenger lifts to assist senior citizens, persons with disabilities and travellers with luggage, and is expected to handle around 4,500 passengers every hour. Officials said the interchange will particularly benefit journeys between south Mumbai, Worli and the central suburbs by reducing walking distances. The facility aims to shorten overall transfer times and simplify mode changes across services.

Construction required complex relocations of underground utilities, officials said, including an 1,800-mm-diameter storm-water drain while keeping nearby water supply and sewer pipelines operational. Work was coordinated closely with the Mumbai Traffic Police to minimise disruption along the Sane Guruji Marg corridor and to maintain traffic flow. Engineers described the assignment as one of the authority's more challenging urban infrastructure tasks.

Planners have long argued that integrated interchange facilities are critical to making public transport more convenient and encouraging commuters to shift away from private vehicles. The MMRDA said the skywalk will allow passengers to switch modes without negotiating multiple staircases or relying on autorickshaws and taxis. Officials indicated the corridor could be made operational once remaining finishing works are completed and safety checks are concluded.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.