Hearing on bridges’ demolition rescheduled

The Asian Age: Mumbai: Wednesday, March 02, 2016.

The Bombay high court on Tuesday rescheduled the hearing on public interest litigation seeking an alternative for pedestrians to cross railway lines before demolition of Carnac and Hancock Bridges in South Mumbai, to an earlier date.

While Hancock Bridge has already been demolished the Carnac Bridge has not been removed yet and the court has directed the railways and the BMC to address the issue raised in the PIL on next date of hearing.

The PIL, filed by social activist Kamlakar Shenoy was supposed to be heard on March 31, however, his lawyer Pradip Thorat mentioned this matter before the division bench headed by Justice Abhay S. Oka and requested the court to direct the Railways and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to build temporary foot over bridge at the place of Hancock bridge.

Though the bench refused to issue such directions, however the judges agreed to hear the petition on earlier date when it was pointed out to the court that the civic body is supposed to make alternative arrangement for crossing railway tracks before demolishing such bridges.

The PIL was filed the day Hancock Bridge was closed for vehicular traffic for demolition and hence this bridge was demolished before disposal of this petition.

“Pending the hearing and disposal of the present Public Interest Litigation the respondents be restrained from demolishing the Carnac Bridge and Hancock Bridge without making arrangement for providing a pedestrian bridge or any other alternative mode for crossing over railway lines to the pedestrians at the locations of the said bridges,” reads the petition.

According to petitioner, the civic body is supposed to make alternative arrangements for pedestrians to cross railway lines before demolishing any such bridge but no such arrangements were made before demolishing Hancock Bridge. He claimed that four accidents have occurred on railway tracks after the demolition of the Hancock Bridge. According to him, as per replies received by him under RTI so far, the BMC does not have any plan for constructing new bridge at the place of Hancock Bridge.