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.