The Bombay High
Court has said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should ensure
that benefits of modern technology are made available to the public, especially
senior citizens, to make commuting in the city "easier and more
comfortable".
A division bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and R N
Laddha was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) about the
non-availability of a foot-over-bridge (FOB) connecting Bandra (East) railway
station with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA)
office-end.
Disposing of the PIL on Monday, the court said the
BMC should consider whether a part of the sky-walk can be a mechanized walkway
so that it becomes useful to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
"The Central and Western Railways as also the
Metro Rail have provided such mechanisms at several railway stations including
escalators," the court said.
Benefits of modern technology should be made
available to commuters to make their commuting life in Mumbai easier and
comfortable, it said.
The BMc should also consider installing elevators at
both ends of the skywalk, the court added.
"Personal
safety of commuters who use the sky-walk, pavements, is paramount," the
high court said.