Hancock bridge: FOB can be built, says Army.

The Army informed the Bombay High Court recently that a temporary foot overbridge (FOB) can be constructed in place of the erstwhile Hancock bridge.

The Army’s report said the construction would be subject to the availability of a suitable clear site at least 15 feet wide on either side.

It said the Railways and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) would have to provide the site free of encumbrances. Subsequently, the Army will carry out fresh reconnaissance to examine the feasibility of the site, work out construction time, prepare for abutments, among other things, with the stakeholders.

The report has said the Railways must shut down rail traffic and power supply for a required period, which will be decided after further reconnaissance.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Kamlakar Shenoy after the bridge at Hancock and Carnac Road was pulled One of the issues the PIL raised was the death of children who were forced to cross the railway tracks in absence of a bridge to reach school.

Earlier, additional solicitor general Anil Singh had submitted that permission was being taken from the Central government for the defence authorities to provide assistance to the corporation on technical matters to construct a temporary bridge.

The court asked the Railways and the BMC to provide all assistance and adjourned the matter.

THE HINDU