Mumbai’s proposed first travelator-equipped skywalk, designed to connect the city’s monorail network with Mumbai Metro Line 3 at Mahalaxmi, has been revised, resulting in a shorter alignment and a reduced direct connection between the two transit systems.
The original plan proposed a 384-metre-long foot overbridge connecting the Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk monorail station directly to the Mahalaxmi Metro station on Metro Line 3. However, under the revised design, the elevated skywalk will now terminate at Jacob Circle, also known as Saat Rasta, around 200 metres away from the metro station.
As a result, commuters transferring between the monorail and metro systems will now need to walk along busy pedestrian stretches and cross multiple traffic lanes near the congested Saat Rasta junction.
The redesign has reignited debate around Mumbai’s long-discussed “multi-modal integration” strategy, which aims to provide seamless interchange between various public transport systems, including metro rail, monorail, suburban rail, and buses.
According to reports, the original alignment became difficult to execute because of a flyover project being constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation along Keshavrao Khadye Marg. Officials reportedly stated that the flyover alignment made the originally planned direct connection technically unfeasible.
Environmental considerations also influenced the redesign. Reports indicated that the earlier proposal would have affected nearly 78 trees near Jacob Circle. The revised alignment avoids large-scale tree cutting in the area.
The redesign has additionally reduced project costs. Officials stated that shortening the skywalk by nearly 100 metres has lowered expenses by more than Rs 10 crore. The project contract has been awarded to a joint venture led by Niraj Cement Structurals Ltd at an estimated cost of ₹82.66 crore.
The revised interchange proposal has also triggered discussions on social media regarding the effectiveness of Mumbai’s monorail system and the need for stronger integration with other transport corridors.
Some users questioned why the monorail network was not extended closer to railway stations and metro corridors, while others criticised the project’s connectivity limitations and described the monorail as an infrastructure experiment that failed to fully integrate with the city’s broader transport ecosystem.
Source: Mumbai Live
