Following the Bombay High Court’s directive for physical inspections of manholes, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner I S Chahal has instructed all 24 ward offices to ensure that manholes within their jurisdiction are covered. A comprehensive report is to be submitted by 10 am on August 21. Expert advocates designated by the High Court, along with the respective assistant commissioners, will jointly conduct inspections starting August 21. A report, bearing their joint signatures, will be submitted to the court. Furthermore, instructions have been issued to fit protective nets on 6,308 manholes. A report on the manhole assessment is to be furnished to the Bombay High Court within three weeks.

Addressing the issue on Friday, the Bombay High Court emphasised that deaths resulting from poor road conditions, potholes, and manholes are not natural occurrences but rather a consequence of human actions. The court underscored the constitutional obligation of both the Maharashtra government and civic bodies to uphold the responsibility of maintaining safe and functional roads. Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor of the division bench also criticised the state government’s inaction regarding the transfer of road maintenance and repair duties to the BMC, a suggestion made in court the previous year.