Seek army help for bridge: Sunil Kumar Sood

Central Railway (CR) General Manager, Sunil Kumar Sood, said that they have recommended that the BMC bring in the Army to build a temporary bridge in place of the iconic Hancock Bridge that was demolished in January this year.

The 153-year-old Hancock Bridge was razed by BMC owing to its dilapidated condition. However, it is being sorely missed even now as it served as an important road-over-bridge for residents and commuters.

Mr Sood said that he has recommended that the BMC Commissioner ask the Army to build a temporary bridge, akin to the one they had built back in 2010 during the Common Wealth Games in Delhi. At the time, the Army had built what they call a ‘Pontoon’ bridge in one day itself. “I have asked BMC Commissioner, Ajoy Mehta, to talk to the Army and see if a temporary bridge can be arranged here. We are ready to give our cabin to them and full cooperation if they require it,” he said.

Mr Sood said that the bridge could be used for a year till such time the new bridge was ready. “In a year, they can remove the bridge but at least the amount of trespassing that occurs there currently will be reduced,” he said. There have been around five deaths at the spot as a result of trespassing.