Mumbai’s First Pedestrian Bridge With Travelator

Mumbai is widely known as the city that never sleeps. People are always on the move, walking from one part of the city to another, which is probably the archetype of a bustling city. But there is one problem with Mumbai that has been gaining the attention of netizens — its terrible traffic. Mumbai’s busy areas like Mahalaxmi in South Mumbai needed more avenues to cut down on the traffic jams and make commuting easier for people.

To say, the commute between the Mahalaxmi railway station and the Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk monorail station takes almost 40 minutes, and the commuters must walk odd distances after a WR train or wait for shared auto-rickshaws to fill up if they need to catch the monorail. Because of the time-consuming long commute, the monorail is witnessing far less footfall than its capacity. Since the public transport is not optimally utilised, the chaotic traffic condition worsened near the Mahalaxmi area.

Initially, the MMRDA planned to extend the monorail line up to Mahalaxmi station. But later, installing travelators appeared more cost-effective, so much so that it is almost about one-third of the cost of installing a monorail, according to a review of the plans. As a result, Mumbai civic authorities have been working on Mumbai’s first pedestrian bridge with a travelator to provide better last-mile connectivity. The pedestrian bridge will connect the Railway station, the monorail station and the upcoming Metro 3 station in Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi area.

Here is more about the travelator, a new project in south Mumbai and the upcoming projects in south Mumbai.

What is a Travelator?

• Travelators, also called moving walkways, are horizontal conveyor systems that transport people across short to medium distances, often in public places like airports, train stations, or shopping malls.
• It consists of a continuously moving conveyor belt that allows passengers to stand or walk on it.
• They are transported at approximately 0.5 to 1.0 metres per second.
• In addition, these facilities have just begun appearing in public areas, replacing traditional footbridges.

Probable Impact of Pedestrian Bridge on Travelators in South Mumbai

This south Mumbai pedestrian bridge with a travelator will connect commuters to the upcoming Metro 3 underground station, the suburban railway, and the monorail at Jacob Circle-Mahalaxmi in South Mumbai. As part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) efforts to integrate three modes of transportation, it is constructing a 700 metres-long pedestrian bridge.

Three different government agencies will oversee the three modes of public transportation.

• Mumbai Monorail runs from Jacob Circle to Chembur, operated by the MMRDA.
• Mahalaxmi is an intermediate station on the upcoming underground Metro 3-line (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ) which is being constructed by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.
• Indian Railways operates Mahalaxmi Station, which connects Churchgate and Dahanu daily and serves many working people.

Jacob Circle or Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk on Monorail is nearly 600 metres from Mahalaxmi railway station. Multiple lanes and obstructions hamper this distance. Therefore, having a dedicated walkway will assist in integrating different public transport modes and encourage passengers to travel by rail.

The length of the proposed footbridge is 335 metres long and 7 metres wide. In addition to escalators and elevators, a diverse population will be able to access the building. There will be the most height between the upcoming underground metro station and the bridge, requiring elevators and escalators.

This pedestrian bridge project is estimated to cost ₹636.8 million and civil contractors are being asked for quotations for the project.

Upcoming Projects in South Mumbai

As discussed earlier, there are some upcoming infrastructure projects in South Mumbai that will enhance the ease of living in the area. Some of them are:

• Trans-harbour sea link
• Sewri – Worli Link Bridge
• The 7-km long marine drive between Wadala and Mazagaon Docks
• Marina Project

To Conclude

By implementing the pedestrian bridge with a travelator, the Mahalaxmi area will become more sustainable in the long run. It will not only contribute to the standard of living of the people residing there but also influence property prices.

Subsequently, premium housing projects like Piramal Mahalaxmi will be greatly appreciated in terms of value. But till then, it still remains one of the poshest residential towers in Mahalaxmi offering luxury apartments that amalgamate style and substance — offering abodes that cocoon families with comfort.

Willing homebuyers can take an e-tour to Piramal Mahalaxmi apartments and see the quality of living that awaits them.

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