Mumbai : After 14-year-old Gaurav Vora was killed last week by an on-coming local train near Sand-hurst Road station while cross-ing the tracks, questions are being raised on the construc-tion of a new foot over bridge in place of the Hancock Bridge. Both the Central Railways and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are lobbing the ball in the other’s court on the issue. The Railways say that they had to only demolish the bridge; BMC is the one that will construct the new bridge. BMC says it will take almost 2 years for the new bridge.
The 136-year-old Hancock Bridge was the only convenient way for the residents of Sand-hurst Road to get to the other side of the tracks but was dem-olished last month as it was in a dilapidated condition and to prevent any accident. The resi-dents of the Sandhurst Road now walk on the rail tracks to avoid spending 60 rupees for the cab which goes through the JJ road.
Central Railway DRM, Amita-bh Ojha, said, “The Hancock Bri-dge was BMC’s property and Railways had just demolished it.” Railways have given all the clearances and necessary per-missions for the new bridge, but now it is BMC’s system which is taking time,” said Ojha.
While Shitla Prasad Kori, Chief Engineer (Bridges), BMC infor-med, “We (BMC) had sent the GAD for approval to railways in August 2014, but the railways approved the GAD in Decem-ber 2015”. “The railway itself did not take the matter seriously otherwise they wouldn’t have consumed so long for the app-roval,” he added. Kori also said that the Central Railway had work on conversion of DC to AC for which they expedited the procedure to demolish the bridge. However, for the const-ruction of new bridge, the ten-der procedure is in process and the civic body has given tender notice in January. In first week of February, the BMC conduct-ed the pre-bid and the tenders are invited till March 9.
The Hancock Bridge was a BMC’s property which was on railway’s property. “The BMC paid us for demolishing the bridge which was in a dilapida-ted condition,” said railway’s spokesperson. “Many over head wires which came near the bri-dge, could cause problems wh-ich demolishing it, hence to prevent technical glitches it was decided that the bridge would be demolished by the railway”, the officer added.
It is expected by the Sand-hurst Road residents that the BMC should have planned in advance for the construction of a new FOB after demolishing the bridge. The residents need to by road go through JJ road to reach Mazgaon side as many schools are located there. It is not affordable for the residents to shell 60 rupees per travel and hence trespass easily risking their lives. “If in the tender there are no technical glitches, the work of the bridge might start in coming April and will take 2 years for the completion as in monsoon the construction will not be done, informed Kori.
