Reopening of Hancock Bridge near Sandhurst Road station which missed several deadlines over the years has met yet another hurdle as several petitioners went to the courts with different demands. The Bombay High Court has asked that the different petitions regarding compensation and direct access to the bridge be clubbed and asked the BMC to file a response. Though the bridge is ready to open now, this, in turn, has pushed back the demolition of Carnac Bunder Bridge, which has been declared as unsafe and needs to be razed.

Satish Thosar, chief engineer of BMC’s bridges department, said, “The work is complete and we were ready to open it on July 15. There are multiple cases including residents’ demand for access to the bridge going on in the high court about the bridge. We are waiting for the court’s direction to open the bridge.”