Mumbai, May 6: Nearly ten years after the historic Hancock Bridge was dismantled, its replacement remains unfinished, leaving a critical east–west corridor operating at reduced capacity and contributing to persistent traffic congestion.
In November 2015, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with Central Railway, undertook an 18-hour operation to dismantle the 136-year-old structure after it was declared unsafe following a structural audit. Named after Colonel HF Hancock, a British-era civil engineer and former president of the Bombay Municipal Corporation, the bridge once served as a vital connector between Mazgaon and the older parts of South Mumbai.
Originally built in 1897, the bridge spanned railway tracks near Sandhurst Road and was a crucial link facilitating east–west movement. While the earlier structure had four operational lanes, the partially completed replacement currently supports only two, despite plans to expand capacity. Over the years, project costs have escalated sharply, rising by over 130% from the initial estimate of Rs 42 crore.
Historian Vinayak Talwar highlighted the bridge’s legacy, noting, “The two islands were separated by a creek known as Umerkhadi… After the railway tracks were laid, this bridge was constructed to facilitate the east-west commute between Mazgaon and present-day Dongri.” He also pointed out the loss of historical plaques during demolition, adding, “When it was being demolished in 2015, those plaques got lost, and to date, nobody could find them.”
The reconstruction has faced multiple setbacks, including contractor disputes, legal challenges, and land acquisition hurdles involving 34 structures, some owned by MHADA. Work stalled for nearly two years after affected residents approached the court over rehabilitation concerns.
Criticising the delay, Congress MLA Amin Patel said, “The fact that the bridge is only halfway operational undermines the fact that it was dismantled in the first place… the place continues to be a vehicular bottleneck.”
Civic officials have now proposed completing the remaining portion at an additional cost of Rs 40.3 crore, with tenders expected later this year. They stated that once pending rehabilitation and structure removal is completed, a timeline for full completion will be finalised.
