The BMC has removed the three-foot-tall grills it had installed in the middle of a Borivli West road to safeguard manholes after mid-day reported on the issue. According to BMC officials, the grills were installed to prevent accidents due to the possibility of manhole covers getting dislodged during surcharge and sewage upthrust due to rain. The work of improving the sewer network is underway and will take at least two more years to complete.

While the BMC had initially claimed the vertical grills were installed for commuter safety and would be removed after safety nets were installed, sewage department officials cited a different reason for installing the grills.