November 24, 2025: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has finally approved the construction of a long-awaited skywalk at Koparkhairane Sector 15, aimed at easing severe pedestrian-induced traffic congestion on the busy Vashi–Koparkhairane corridor. The project, estimated at Rs 6.59 crore, comes after nearly two decades of demands from residents and follows years of chaotic pedestrian movement between D-Mart Chowk and Teen Tanki.
The skywalk, to be located near Gulabchand Dairy, will feature an escalator on one side and a lift on the other, providing safer and more convenient access for senior citizens, pregnant women, and daily commuters. A resident highlighted the urgency, noting, “Accidents are frequent here, including the death of a newspaper vendor four years ago. Earlier, vehicles could switch lanes through gaps in the median, but these were sealed following repeated demands from traffic police.”
This corridor is one of Navi Mumbai’s busiest, with heavy pedestrian traffic contributing to jams between 9.30 am and 1–1.30 pm and again from 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm. While a skywalk exists between Vashi Sector 9–10 markets, residents argue that the Koparkhairane junction faces far higher pedestrian surges, especially during evenings when commuters move from the railway station through Sectors 15 to 18.
The area is surrounded by dense residential pockets, schools, colleges, markets, bus stops, and a high concentration of unauthorized hawkers, further complicating traffic movement. Former corporator Ravindra Mhatre had even undertaken two indefinite hunger strikes to demand civic improvements, including this skywalk.
An NMMC officer said, “NMMC will construct the skywalk at Koparkhairane Sector 15 at an estimated cost of Rs 6.59 crore. Tendering will begin soon. With an escalator and a lift, senior citizens, pregnant women, and ailing persons will be able to use the skywalk easily.”
The skywalk will stand 5 metres high, 3.5 metres wide, and approximately 12 metres long. Construction is expected to commence following the tendering process, offering a long-overdue solution to pedestrian congestion in the sector.
Source: The Free Press Journal
