The154-year-old Carnac bridge was closed for vehicular movement on Monday for its demolition. Both Hancock and Carnac are crucial east-west bridges in South Mumbai, connecting P D'Mello Road to the west side. Since only two lanes of Hancock bridge are open for traffic to avoid traffic hassle, the BMC has undertaken a drive against hawkers on Yusuf Meher Ali Road. Moreover, few structures close to the bridge will be demolished in a four-day drive, said a civic official.
Heavy vehiclas were banned on the bridge, situated between CSMT and Masjid Road stations since November 2013, after its steel structure corroded. In 2018, IIT-Bombay conducted a safety audit and recommended that the bridge be closed and rebuilt. The railways carried out urgent safety repairs so that the bridge remains safe till it is dismantled. The BMC will start the reconstruction of the bridge in November and it is expected to be ready by May 2024.
“As informed by the railway administration, vehicular and pedestrian movement on the bridge is closed from August 22. Traffic will be diverted to avoid jams until the reconstruction of the bridge,” said a statement issued by deputy commissioner of police (south) Traffic, Pradnya Jedge,.
“We have already started demolition of structures close to the bridge where chowkies of solid waste management department, pay and use public toilet have been removed. We found it risky to demolish the other public toilet so we have appointed a contractor who will raze it in the next two days. We are continuously taking action against illegal hawkers sitting on the west side of Yusuf Meher Ali road so that there would be no inconvenience to the traffic." said a civic official from B ward.
Traffic diversions
As per the notification, Yusuf Meher Ali Road will be a one-way route. The northbound traffic coming from Pohmal Junction towards P’Demelo Road will remain closed from 7 am to 11 am. During these hours, vehicles will have to proceed to their destinations via Mohammad Ali Road – Himalaya Junction – CST Junction – Avtar Singh Bedi Chowk. Commuters can also make their way through Bhendi Baazar junction and take a left turn at SVP Road – Wadibundar Junction to P’Demelo Road.
For the southbound traffic from Kundalal Kata towards Pohmal Junction, the road will be closed between 4 pm and 9 pm. During these hours, commuters will have to take a right turn from Wadibandar junction - SVP Road - ST junction - taking a left turn at Bhendi Bazar junction to Mohammad Ali Road to proceed to their desired destinations. Vehicles heading to Pohmal junction from P'Demelo Road taking a right turn at Kundanlal Kata will proceed to their destination via Avtar Singh Bedi Chowk - CST junction and turn left at LT Road – Mohammad Ali Road to proceed to their destination.
There shall be ‘no parking’ for all types of vehicles on the south and northbound of the Yusuf Meher Ali Road.
The notification also added, “In line with the evacuation of the Carnac bridge, a 24-hour ban is being imposed on all types of Cargo Handcarts on alternative route Yusuf Meher Ali Road to avoid traffic jams till the bridge is reconstructed.”
