At night, poor lighting in the spaces under flyovers poses significant safety risks, especially for women, children, and elderly pedestrians.

While these spaces under Mumbai’s flyovers have the potential to be transformed into green recreational areas, they are often left unutilised or misused.

In the first of the series on these spaces, mid-day visited the stretch from Dahisar to Bandra on the Western Express Highway (WEH).

In some areas, like Tata Power-Devipada flyover, pedestrians are forced to walk on the road due to the cluttering of footpaths with scrap vehicles, creating dangers for pedestrians, especially children and the elderly.

Under some flyovers, like the Tata Power-Devipada flyover, abandoned vehicles are left to rust, creating both an eyesore and a potential hazard for people walking by.

Under certain flyovers, like the Malad East (Pushpa Park) flyover, toy sellers and homeless individuals have encroached upon the space, leading to littering and making the areas unsanitary.

In some places, like the Pathanwadi-Dindoshi flyover, the footpaths under flyovers are used as dumping grounds for garbage, making them inaccessible and unsanitary for public use.

Additionally, poorly lit and dirty narrow passages, like the space underneath the Pathanwadi-Dindoshi flyover, make it dangerous for pedestrians, particularly during evening hours.

Hawkers who occupy the spaces under certain flyovers, like under Mrinal Tai Gore flyover, often litter and leave garbage behind, worsening the condition of these areas.

Flyovers like Jay Coach are plagued by garbage and plastic bottle litter, creating an unsanitary environment.

Some spaces under flyovers, such as the one near the domestic airport, have become gathering places for drunkards and anti-social elements, creating an unsafe environment for pedestrians.

In places like the Kherwadi flyover, crossing the area is risky due to the absence of proper walkways and speeding vehicles, creating a danger for pedestrians.

In some areas, spaces under flyovers have been turned into parking zones, often leading to congestion and unauthorised activities.

The area below the Kherwadi flyover was being used as a parking space. Besides, illegal garages were also operating out of the space and such actions contribute to congestion and disorder.

Urban planners and experts argue that with proper planning, the neglected spaces under flyovers can be transformed into useful community areas, but current neglect is wasting valuable space.

Experts emphasise that even when these spaces are repurposed, regular maintenance is crucial to prevent them from falling into disrepair again.

Encroachment is a major issue under several flyovers, turning these areas into neglected and unsightly zones, rather than being put to proper public use, said Dhawal Ashar, a transportation planner and engineer.

Founder of The Walking Project, Rishi Aggarwal, said successful projects like One Green Mile in Lower Parel show the potential for spaces under flyovers to be transformed into parks, but these initiatives are limited to specific areas and need to be expanded.

Turning these underutilised spaces into recreational areas could improve the quality of public life in Mumbai, especially in a city starved for open spaces, said Gopal Jhaveri, resident of Borivli and founder of Mumbai March, a citizens’ movement.

Experts say the main issue is the lack of coordination between various government agencies responsible for these spaces, which leads to neglect and poor planning.

If the areas under flyovers were better managed and utilised, they could contribute positively to the urban landscape and improve pedestrian safety, the experts said.

Although there are ongoing efforts to clear encroachments and beautify the areas under flyovers, these efforts are often hampered by the constant re-encroachment and misuse of the spaces, said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner (P South ward) and deputy municipal commissioner, solid waste management.

However, Milind Mhaske, the CEO of Praja Foundation, argued that clear guidelines on how to use and maintain spaces under flyovers should be established during the planning stage, rather than being addressed after issues arise.

Involving corporate entities in the development and maintenance of these spaces could ensure their long-term sustainability and prevent them from falling into neglect again, said Sahebrao Gaikwad, retired assistant municipal commissioner.