Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said that the MMRDA has decided to construct skywalk-cum-elevated hawking plazas in the MMR. According to Gaikwad, about 50 railway stations will have one km long hawking plazas. The decision was arrived at when resettled hawkers at Kanjur Marg station complained of loss of business after they were shifted to interior location. “Skywalk can be good instrument to solve the problem of the commercial PAPs. Hence, use of air space has become evident,” he stated. Kanjur Marg has been identified for the pilot project of skywalk cum hawking plaza. “The skywalk cum hawking plaza would be constructed on the western side of the station, which will connect to LBS marg,” he said.

“Each tenement will be 100 sq ft with lock and key. The breadth of the skywalk will be made around 30-35 feet long to accommodate hawkers and give sufficient place for commuters to walk,” he said. Gaikwad also said the hawking plaza along with the skywalk will not exceed the budget earmarked for the skywalks by the state government in September 2007.