A 0.3-km pedestrian walkway constructed in 2023 to streamline access to Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Temple continues to see minimal use more than two years after it was inaugurated, according to residents living nearby. Despite significant public expenditure on the project, devotees still crowd the narrow main approach road, leading to congestion and safety concerns outside residential buildings in the area.
The walkway was designed to improve crowd management and provide a safer, more organised entry and exit route to the temple. However, locals say the alternate access point, which connects to the rear side of the temple, has largely remained vacant except during occasional VIP visits. As a result, heavy footfall persists along the front approach road, where residential buildings line the stretch.
Residents have raised several concerns, stating that emergency vehicles struggle to enter the congested lane, footwear piles obstruct movement near homes, and daily crowding disrupts normal life. The 20-foot-wide walkway, inaugurated on October 15, 2023, was expected to accommodate large gatherings, particularly during peak festival periods.
“Shift devotees and stalls to the alternate road and free up this space. Emergency vehicles can’t reach us now. Our safety is at risk,” one resident said.
The Mahalaxmi Temple, which is over 250 years old, is among Mumbai’s most frequented religious sites and attracts thousands of visitors, especially during festivals such as Navratri.
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who inaugurated the walkway in 2023, acknowledged the issue. “The pathway was built for devotees. I will convene a meeting with civic and temple authorities, along with Coastal Road officials, to find out why the devotees cannot access this walkway, freeing up the space for residents and, most importantly, emergency services. Built with public funds worth crores, it must serve the people, especially the devotees.”
Source: Mid-day
