Even after several incidents of bridge collapse and people losing their lives, the Central Railways (CR) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are yet to speed up work on the Hancock bridge which is delayed for the last three years. Work on Hancock has delayed demolition and reconstruction work of 150-year-old Carnac bridge, which has been declared as dilapidated. Since both the bridges are crucial for connectivity, Carnac bridge cannot be demolished till reconstruction of Hancock bridge.

The demolition of illegal hutments has cleared roadblocks for construction of Hancock bridge that was demolished in 2016. However, the work is yet to speed up, accuse activists. "Hancock bridge is the worst example of lack of planning. The Railways are yet to make arrangements for storage of the materials at the site. This can lead to delay in the Hancock project and thereby the Carnac project," said Kamlakar Shenoy, activist.

The dilapidated Hancock bridge was demolished in January 2016. The work was stalled for almost two years, as the contractor appointed by the BMC was blacklisted. Fresh tenders were then floated, and the project was awarded to Sai Projects in February 2018, and work was supposed to be completed by the year-end. The reconstruction was further delayed due to a few shanties refusing to evacuate the area due to the issue of rehabilitation. Encroachments along the site that delayedthe project were finally removed on March 8, clearing the roadblocks for construction of the bridge.

Delay in the reconstruction of Hancock Bridge between Byculla and Sandhurst Road station has delayed work of Carnac bridge at Masjid station. Both bridges are crucial for connectivity and cannot be demolished at the same time. Reconstruction of Carnac bridge will start only after the new Hancock bridge is open for traffic.

This bridge is being built by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) on a single entity basis. We were asked to dismantle the old ROB which we did in 2016. Railways had agreed for a wider ROB which required additional railway land on the east. For Carnac ROB, MCGM has been requested to make activity bar charts so that other stakeholders can be informed accordingly," said Sunil Udasi Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway.