10 July,2025 01:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MS
BMC workers clean up the whitish patches on the Fitzgerald Fountain after the ongoing monsoon took a toll on the iconic British-era structure. PIC/ASHISH RAJE
Just a week after mid-day reported on the sorry state of the iconic 157-year-old Fitzgerald Fountain, where paint was peeling off, exposing the structure to rust and weather damage, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday initiated cleaning of the fountain. The heritage structure is located at a prime spot in Mumbai: Vasudev Balvant Phadke Chowk, popularly known as the junction that houses the Metro Cinema theatre.
Only five years after its restoration and installation, mid-day reported on July 3 that the paint was peeling off the wrought iron structure. This deterioration was a result of the expiry of a three-year maintenance contract. In the absence of regular upkeep, the fountain's surface had suffered due to exposure to hard rainwater.
A senior BMC official told mid-day, "We have re-invited tenders for the maintenance of the Fitzgerald Fountain. Meanwhile, we noticed it is in a very poor condition and has lost its lustre. We have requested the previous contractor to resume upkeep work."
Cast in wrought iron, the 16-tonne monument dates back to 1867 and was originally erected to honour Sir Seymour Fitzgerald, Governor of Bombay from 1867 to 1872. In 1960, the fountain was relocated to the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo, as it bore the royal coat of arms, a symbol of British rule.
In 2020-21, BMC's Heritage Cell undertook its restoration, which included sandblasting, oxidising, and the application of a polyurethane coat to protect it from rust. The structure was then returned to its original location near Metro Cinema. From 2022 to March 2025, a BMC-appointed contractor maintained the fountain. However, since the contract lapsed, its upkeep has declined.
