Mazgaon bridge: HC pulls up Rly, BMC for inaction

“We fail to understand as to why Railways are refusing to construct this structure which has larger public interest”

The Bombay High Court on Friday pulled up the Railway authorities and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for their ‘inaction’ in constructing a temporary bridge for pedestrians near Mazgaon.

A division bench presided over by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Girish Kulkarni was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by activist Kamlakar Shenoy. He had sought directions for construction of a temporary bridge near Magaon.

The demand for a temporary bridge caught pace after the dismantling of the century-old Hancock Bridge that has compelled citizens to cross railway tracks to visit the either side of Mazgaon.

Earlier, the HC had asked the BMC and Railways to take help from the Indian Army to construct a temporary bridge as they excel in constructing temporary bridges.

On Thursday, the bench was informed that the Railways have been denying permission to construct the temporary structure citing encroachments.

Irked by this, Chief Justice Chellur said, “We fail to understand as to why the Railways are refusing to construct this structure which has larger public interest. This is despite the fact that there are thousands of illegal encroachments on the tracks across the city.”

“The authorities should understand that it is the students and the citizens who are facing hardships apart from accidents as they have to cross the tracks,” Chief Justice Chellur said.

The bench also asked the authorities to sit together and come up with a solution to this issue. The matter has been adjourned for next week.