Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has started the tender process for Pedestrian suspension bridge connecting the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Mahim’s Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP). With a length of 550m, this is expected to be the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 98.81crore. Hanging walkways are light infrastructures meant for pedestrians and bicycles.
In 2020, MMRDA had invited bids for preparation of Urban Design Master Plan for BKC, Detailed Engineering of an Iconic Pedestrian Bridge and Architectural Design of Maha Mumbai Metro Office in BKC, Mumbai. The final nod for the bridge came in August 2020. Two watch towers are also proposed in the city park and MNP
Constructed over a dumping ground in 1994, the 37-acre park was created for environmental education and with the new developments including a pedestrian bridge makes it a recreation zone.
The park is located on the south banks of the Mithi river and is home to over 158 varieties of birds, 85 species of butterflies, 30 spider varieties and 32 kinds of reptiles. The footfalls to the park is just about 2 lakh visitors per year. The access to the park is by congested roads.
Currently, the worlds longest hanging pedestrian bridge, Europabrücke (Europe Bridge), is located in the Swiss town of Zermatt and is 494m long. Another bridge of 405m in Reutte in Austria is 110m higher above the ground.