SAFETY OF COMMUTERS AT SKYWALK

Amit Srivastava

With frequent complaints of robbery and theft in skywalks across Kalyan, the Thane police have written to Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to illuminate skywalks properly and shut those which receive few or no footfalls at midnight.

Dattatray Karle, additional commissioner of police, Kalyan said that they have discussed the problem with the KDMC and the civic body agreed in principle to take necessary measures. “We have also written to KDMC authority to illuminate all skywalks properly and suggest which skywalks should be closed at midnight,” said Karle.

He said that except skywalks directly connecting to the railway stations, there are skywalks that have little or no footfalls at midnight. “I have suggested closing such skywalks during the night as precautionary measures,” said Karle. He added that citizens can use footpath instead of skywalks at midnight which have normally less traffic.

Last month, the crime branch arrested two persons who had allegedly robbed a hotelier who was walking through the skywalk connecting Kalyan railway station to ST Bus depot near Kalyan railway station. Though the incident took place in April 2018, police could have arrested the two robbers on May 28 as there was no CCTV footage and no one saw the incident. They had robbed Rs 2500 from hotelier by showing sharp edge weapons.

Police said that it is not possible to depute police at every skywalk during the night. “As police officials have to go to other places as well, it is difficult to put them at skywalks round the clock,” said Karle. However, he added that he has also suggested KDMC put CCTV cameras in all skywalks as safety measures.

Even citizens and commuters feel unsafe during the night. Many commuters complaint about the presence of drug addicts during the night. Amarjeet Singh, a resident of Bhandup who works as a bartender in Kalyan said that while returning home from work in the midnight, he often sees drug addicts occupy the skywalks. “Since I am young, I can protect myself. But it is not safe for senior citizens and women safer” said Singh.

Sapna Koli, city engineer of KDMC said that they have received letter from police. “One day back we received letter from the police. The letter is regarding close skywalks which are not used frequently during midnight,” said Koli. She added that the electrical department will be informed to initiate measures to make skywalks safe through proper illumination. However, she added that it will take time to close the skywalk during the night.

Another civic official said that a survey will be required to check which side of the skywalk is not used during midnight and accordingly, a decision can be taken.

Recently, the KDMC had carried out an audit of skywalk connecting to the Kalyan railway station with IIT Bombay. The audit included a detailed inspection that involves machinery and manpower. The audit is supposed to help KDMC to know the actual damage in the skywalk. The civic body spent around Rs 14 lakh on the audit.