MMRDA to construct first pedestrian bridge with travelator

Work on Mumbai's first travelator on a foot over bridge will begin in early 2023. At South Mumbai's Jacob Circle-Mahalaxmi, the pedestrian bridge will connect commuters to a metro rail, suburban railway, and monorail. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will build a 700-metre-long pedestrian bridge to integrate three different modes of transportation. The three modes of public transportation are overseen by three different government agencies. The MMRDA operates the Mumbai Monorail, which runs between Jacob Circle, also known as Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk, and Chembur. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation is currently building the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ underground metro rail, and Mahalaxmi is an intermediate station. Similarly, Mahalaxmi railway station is operated by Indian Railways and connects a large number of working people between Churchgate and Dahanu on a daily basis. The distance between Monorail's Sant Ghadge Maharaj Chowk station and Mahalaxmi railway station is nearly 600 metres, and the obstructions and multiple lanes en route lengthen the journey. As a result, having a dedicated walkway will not only help to integrate the various public commuting modes, but will also encourage passengers to use rail-based transportation. The proposed footbridge will be 335 metres long and seven metres wide. It will also have escalators and elevators to facilitate access for a diverse population. The most height that must be covered will be from the underground metro station to the bridge, necessitating the use of elevators and escalators. The MMRDA has set a budget of Rs 636.8 million for the construction of a pedestrian bridge and has requested quotes from civil contractors. “Work will commence in another three months and is expected to be completed in a year, that is, by February 2024,” said an MMRDA official. The MMRDA recently announced plans to extend the monorail line up to Mahalaxmi station in order to integrate and get closer to the Aqua metro line's underground station. However, a review of the plans revealed that installing travelators will be a more cost-effective option, costing roughly one-third of the cost of a monorail. See also: Mumbai first travelator to connect Mahalaxmi railway station to MonorailMMRDA to link Mumbai Monorail corridor to Colaba-Seepz Metro-3 line