BMC pilots protective manhole railguards in Saki Naka after pedestrian death
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a pilot project to deploy a new "manhole railguard" protective enclosure in Mumbai's L ward, which includes Saki Naka and Chandivali. The initiative follows a recent fatal accident where a 55-year-old resident died after falling into an open manhole in Saki Naka. Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and senior civic officials reviewed the prototype of the safety enclosure on Monday.
The safety move comes after Aslam Isaq Shaikh died on July 2. Shaikh fell into an open manhole on Khairani Road during heavy rain. Contractors appointed by the local ward office had opened the manhole to install protective grills, sparking renewed concerns over pedestrian safety during monsoon-related civic works. L ward contains at least 75 of Mumbai's estimated one lakh manholes.
The newly designed manhole railguard is a square-shaped protective barrier designed to surround open manholes on all four sides while work is underway. Standing about one metre high and measuring 1.5 metres in length and width, the structure consists of metal barriers fitted with a protective net on all sides. Depending on the size and location of the manhole, the railguards will weigh either 80 kg or 225 kg.
During Monday's prototype review, Mayor Tawde suggested adding reflectors or flashing lights to the railguards to improve visibility for pedestrians at night and during poor weather conditions. Civic officials are also considering the introduction of collapsible barriers to accommodate different-sized manholes.
Currently, Mumbai has more than one lakh manholes, with around 74,000 covering sewer lines and the remainder serving the storm water drainage network. The BMC has previously attempted other safety measures, including a 2024 proposal for a "smart manhole" project featuring sirens to deter theft, which was ultimately shelved due to technical constraints.
Civic officials stated that they will study the experiences and suggestions gathered during the pilot in L ward before deciding whether to roll out the railguard model across other wards in the city.
