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The twin skywalks connecting Virar East and West, once envisioned as safe pedestrian corridors, have turned into zones of neglect — overrun by squatters, beggars, and drug addicts. Thousands of daily commuters now avoid the bridges altogether, preferring to risk the chaotic roads below rather than face the filth and fear above.

The eastern skywalk, the busier of the two, is strewn with sleeping bodies, makeshift cooking setups, and piles of garbage. The area near the staircases has become an open toilet for the children of the squatters, creating an unbearable stench that mocks the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The walls are splattered with paan stains and spit marks.

Paan stains deface the skywalk

Ironically, the skywalk stands right beside the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation’s Ward C office and the Virar police station, yet no sustained effort has been made to reclaim the structure.

After dark, a danger zone

Once the sun sets, the eastern skywalk turns into a no-go zone. Drug addicts dominate the space, drinking, smoking, and intimidating anyone who dares to pass. “It’s risky to use the bridge alone after dark,” said Ravi Jadhav, a daily commuter. “Addicts are everywhere — drinking, shouting, and sometimes harassing people.” “I used to save ten minutes by taking the skywalk,” said Priya Deshmukh, a resident. “Now I’d rather deal with the auto chaos below than climb into that mess.”

Western skywalk: falling apart

The western skywalk, closed for redevelopment, has its own decay story — broken tiles, missing railings, and red spit stains make it unsafe and unsightly. Locals say the isolation has turned it into a hangout for couples and college groups.

An anti-spitting signboard on the Virar skywalk lies barely hangs on

“Nothing serious has happened yet, but it’s only a matter of time,” warned Ramesh Gaikwad, who lives nearby. “The bridge needs guards and maintenance. Some of us can’t even keep our windows open because of what goes on there.” Illegal hoardings and banners have also mushroomed along the landing arm — another civic violation left unchecked.

Officials react, civic body silent

When asked about the state of the skywalks, a senior inspector from Virar police station said, “We patrol the bridge twice a day and are working to clear it of squatters and hawkers.” Repeated attempts to contact VVCMC Commissioner Manoj Suryavanshi went unanswered. Social activists have slammed the civic body’s apathy. “Crores were spent building these skywalks, and now they’ve become symbols of neglect,” said one activist. “The VVCMC must clean them up, install CCTV cameras, deploy guards, and make them usable again. The fact that the ward office itself tolerates this filth is shameful.”