Construction of a new bridge replacing the demolished Hancock bridge in Byculla may start after Diwali as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expecting a decision from the Supreme Court in the next hearing around October 24, as assured by SO Kori, chief engineer (bridge) of BMC to standing committee members last week.
Construction was put on hold following Bombay High Court's order. BMC had reportedly awarded contract for construction of four bridges including the Hancock Bridge to a contractor blacklisted for carrying out shoddy road works of the BMC. After the High Court stay, the contractor approached Supreme Court. Now the final decision is awaited.
It is almost one and half years since the 135-year-old Hancock bridge was demolished in November 2015. The British-era bridge near Sandhurst Road railway station was deemed dangerous by the CR in 2013 and was demolished. The railway overbridge connected Byculla and Dadar.
Delay in construction of the new bridge has been creating a lot of problems for residents of three to four major areas, who have now decided to take the matter to court. Residents even formed a Hancock Bridge Nirman Committee (HBNC) and decided to approach Supreme Court for an alternative bridge.
Even in March 2016, Bombay High Court had directed BMC and Railways to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking arrangement for providing pedestrians an alternative mode for crossing over the railway lines after the Hancock bridge's demolition.
Activist Kamlakar Shenoy had filed the PIL, and had also submitted RTI reports that showed there was no specific reason to demolish the bridge. "Railways did not have any report to says the bridge was dangerous and needed to be demolished," said Shenoy. He also has doubts over the civic body getting a final decision in October.
