Love birds are taking a skywalk………Yogesh Naik
MUMBAI: Over the last few years, couples in Ghatkopar, as the rest of this space-crunched concrete junglehad a dearth of parks and gardens to spend some time together. But now, they have suddenly stumbled upon a new hangout placethe skywalk recently constructed by the MMRDA connecting the northern end Ghatkopar and the station has become a hit among couples and college students for socialising.
In Ghatkopar (W), which is mainly an industrial area, the only place where youngsters can hang out is a mall on LBS Marg, while the eastern part of Ghatkopar has all the greensLions Garden, Arunkumar Vaidya Garden and Mehta Garden. Somaiya College campus was also one of the favourite haunts for couples, but they started shunning it after the authorities got strict.
They found a new place for their rendezvous when the skywalk was opened two months ago. With pedestrians hardly ever using the facility, couples, who regularly get harassed by the police and eunuchs, found this spot an ideal place to meet. Besides, many students from Jhunjhunwala College and coaching classes have also turned it into their favourite haunt.
Said Ashutosh Shah (name changed), “As the skywalk is at least two-storey high, people walking along the station road cannot see what is happening up and those passing through the trains can barely see what people are doing on the skywalk. So, it has become a cosy nook for couples.”
When TOI told MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad about the new lovers’ spot, he said, “I never thought that the skywalk would turn into a hotspot for couples.”
Ghatkopar residents, who maintained that they did not need a skywalk in their area said it was mainly being used by couples and college kids. Property lawyer Vinod Sampat said, “Everyone needs privacy, especially youngsters who do not have much option. There should be sufficient monitoring, which will dissuade couples.” Even senior inspector C V Zendekar said they planned to increase the bandobast there.