A division bench of justices SM Kemkar and MS Karnik has also asked the authorities to take the advice of the Indian Army, which is known to build bridges fast.
The Bombay High Court has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Central Railways to inform by June 14 the time they will take to build a foot overbridge (FOB) after the razing of Hancock bridge at Sandhurst Road. An FOB is crucial in order to stop people from crossing the tracks as that leads to accidents.
A division bench of justices SM Kemkar and MS Karnik has also asked the authorities to take the advice of the Indian Army, which is known to build bridges fast.
Last month, the court had directed the civic body and CR to decide within four weeks on a site for a temporary FOB. The railways had also been told to ensure that border walls along the tracks are properly built to avoid illegal crossing.
The direction was given during the hearing of the petition filed by resident Kamlakar Shenoy stating that though the proposal was first mooted in 2009, the bridges were yet to be dismantled. Further, no arrangements had been made so that traffic could be diverted. The petitioner pointed out that double parking and encroachments on the road from Crawford Market to Bhendi Bazaar and JJ hospital junction to Akbar Peerbhoy College had led to traffic congestion.
Advocate Trupti Puranik, appearing for the civic body, informed the court that a meeting between the corporation and railways was held but no outer (time) limit was fixed for completion of the FOB. Moreover, the corporation wants the railways to build the bridge.
Hancock bridge was constructed in 1879 and Carnac bridge in 1922. The two are important connecting roads in the area. The Carnac bridge connects CST, Crawford Market and Masjid areas, while Hancock bridge links Mazgaon with Sandhurst Road.
In 2009, the railways floated a proposal to demolish both the bridges as the DC to AC conversion of railway tracks required a vertical clearance of 5.87 metres.
In October 2012, Hancock bridge was closed for light, medium and heavy vehicles. In early 2015, the railways issued a letter to the municipal commissioner to stop all kinds of traffic, including pedestrian movement, on the bridges. Accordingly, the bridges have been demolished.
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