``The old bridge cannot be repaired; it has to be replaced. We have recommended the work to our Sabarmati engineering division'', said Divisional Railway Engineer K C Jena.

Till the bridge is complete, however, passengers will continue to be inconvenienced. ``A number of passenger trains, including the Saurashtra Mail, and some express trains pass through this station daily; it must be a problem for the passengers -- especially those with children -- to cross the tracks'', said a railway official at the Vasad station. ``A large number of trespassing cases are recorded at this station, but then, what is the alternative?'', asked another official.

A question to which the authorities certainly have no answer at the moment.