The reconstruction of Hancock bridge doesn't seem to be going smoothly. Now, the project cost has escalated by almost 50% of the original price and the new proposal of increased cost will be tabled before the Standing Committee members today. The civic administration has proposed an increase of about Rs 25 crore from the earlier cost of Rs 51 crore, taking the cost of the project to Rs 76 crore, after the IIT-B has suggested using stronger girders.

Many problems

Built in 1879, the bridge was declared unsafe by Central Railway in 2015, and was subsequently demolished in January 2016. However, the reconstruction project has been delayed due to unending reasons. First, the contractor appointed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had been blacklisted, and then this was under litigation, delaying the project. Then the issue of rehabilitating slum dwellers staying under the bridge caused a delay.