Mumbai :-Tired of months of sleepless nights and unresponsive authorities, residents of Malad West’s JB Colony and Sundar Lane took matters into their own hands to fix loudly clanking manhole lids that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) allegedly ignored despite repeated complaints.
For several months, locals had been reporting that loose manhole lids rattled every time vehicles passed over them, creating a constant disturbance—especially during late-night hours. However, residents claim that despite multiple visits to the P North ward office, civic officials failed to provide a solution.
“They kept saying they didn’t have a solution and simply ignored our complaints. We were left struggling with severe noise issues every night,” said resident Wanda Fernandes.
Some residents said officials even cited a lack of budget. “They admitted they had no intention of addressing the problem due to funds shortage. We felt completely helpless,” said Joe Canute of Spring Field 1.
A Simple DIY Solution
The breakthrough came when resident Ronnie D’Souza suggested inserting old rubber cycle tubes into the gaps of the lids after discussing ideas with contractors and engineers in the area. The makeshift cushioning worked remarkably well, almost completely eliminating the noise.
Encouraged by the success, residents hired daily-wage labourers and fixed around 10–12 manhole lids using discarded tubes that cost them nothing.
“We can finally sleep peacefully, and the elderly no longer get startled at night,” Fernandes added.
Capt Clinton Mukadam of Girnar Galaxy CHS said the incident shows that simple, inexpensive solutions are possible if officials are willing. “These tubes were waste products, yet they solved our problem.”
D’Souza added that citizens must also take initiative when needed. “We shouldn’t rely solely on BMC or politicians. Supporting authorities helps everyone perform better.”
