The state government and Indian Railways have finally woken up to the woes of commuters due to its delay in reconstruction.
Two-and-half years after the Hancock Bridge near Sandhurst road was demolished, The state government and Indian Railways have finally woken up to the woes of commuters due to its delay in reconstruction. On August 29, Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal wrote a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in the reconstruction of Hancock bridge that is being done by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The civic body has not resumed work even though the High Court asked them to begin the work in January this year. The railway officials claim that there is a need for an additional portion of land which belongs to the railways. Around 100 families who have encroached the land need to be rehabilitated.
The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been requested to direct the BMC to clear the encroachments from the land. The railways state that as per Section 147 of Railways Act if any person enters upon any part of railway without lawful authority, one may be evicted from railway property. The Central government does not have a separate policy for slum rehabilitation and improvement.
The letter mentions that 'Despite the clearance, the construction has not yet commenced as MCGM needs additional land on approaches, part of which belongs to the railways having old encroachment. Taking into consideration these aspects, rehabilitation of the encroachers in the approach of Hancock bridge by the railways is not possible. Considering the need for additional land, the MCGM should carry out required R&R at its cost'.
"This will finally set the ball rolling. The new bridge built by the BMC will be widened from 18 meters to 30 meters. Thus, the railway land is needed," said a railway official.
There are two pipelines — one 900mm and the other 1200mm — that are running below this bridge. Sources in the BMC said that they will have to be careful during its reconstruction. This 137-year-old bridge was dismantled in January 2016 as it was unsafe.
While the two government agencies had been arguing over its reconstruction, commuters and motorists were facing a tough time. "We are paying around Rs 50 when taking a ride by black and yellow cab to Byculla station used to charge Rs 22," said Suprabha Sonigra, a resident of Mazgaon.
These diversions of road traffic have become a nightmare for motorists who are losing time and money. Apart from this, there are many people including school kids who are crossing and trespassing on rail tracks to come all the way to Sandhurst Road railway station, risking their lives. The locals are also demanding a foot over bridge to Sandhurst Road station that is barely 500 meters away.
COMMUTERS' WOES
While the two government agencies had been arguing over its reconstruction, commuters and motorists were facing a tough time. Diversions of road traffic have become a nightmare for people who are losing time and money
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Hancock Bridge")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}