The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other civic authorities to submit detailed information on potholes and manholes across their jurisdictions, along with updates on measures taken to address these issues before the monsoon season.
A division bench comprising Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) initiated in 2013 concerning road safety hazards caused by potholes. In October 2025, the court had ordered compensation of Rs 6 lakh in cases of death caused by pothole-related incidents, while compensation ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh was directed for injury cases.
Advocate Ruju Thakker informed the court that several incidents had been reported even after the compensation order. She urged civic bodies to provide updated data, including the number of uncovered manholes and the steps taken to secure them in view of the approaching monsoon.
Thakker also referred to earlier concerns regarding 19 deaths reported on Ghodbunder Road. However, counsel representing the Thane Municipal Corporation argued that not all accidents could be attributed to potholes, claiming some were the result of rash and negligent driving.
Responding to the submission, Thakker said, “Ghodbunder Road is riddled with potholes, and residents are protesting.”
Questioning the lack of corrective action, Justice Khata remarked, “Don’t push the people to come on the streets.”
The court has sought responses from the concerned civic bodies and scheduled the next hearing in the matter for June 24.
Source: The Times of India
