Mumbai skywalks: are these elevated paths 'ugly caterpillars' or precious public space?
The skywalks project has always been controversial – but given the lack of gardens, parks or even footpaths in the city, some Mumbaikars find they provide welcome breathing space
Seventeen-year-old Pavan is almost in tears. He was supposed to pick up cloth samples and return to his boss within an hour, but the store is shut. Staring at the sign of the Diya Design Studio from atop the Santacruz West skywalk, Pavan balls his fists. He is from the state of Uttar Pradesh and has been working in Mumbai for a year now. “I told my seth [boss] the shop is shut for a few hours. He will still shout at me,” said Pavan, with his head on the railing.
In Mumbai where each person gets barely any share of open space (1.95 sq metre per person, a study shows), where does someone like Pavan go? Given the lack of public spaces like gardens, parks or even footpaths, some people find respite in the spaces provided by the recently developed skywalks.
Source: Guardian Transport