Unevenly placed manhole covers threat to commuters

Half-covered and unevenly placed manhole covers across the city have become a serious hazard for commuters, leading to multiple accidents. The failure of the Municipal Corporation (MC) to address the issue has drawn widespread criticism from residents as well commuters.

On Tuesday, a car got stuck on Ladowali Road after failing to navigate an unevenly placed manhole cover. In another incident, a man on a two-wheeler fell after being caught off guard by the same hazard. MC workers spent hours cleaning an overflowing manhole at the same location, leaving it open as they struggled to resolve the issue. Eventually, they placed a tree branch and taped off the area to warn commuters after nearby vendors and business owners made complaints.

A tour of the city reveals several such manholes with broken, displaced or missing covers, particularly in high-traffic areas such as Pratap Bagh, the railway station vicinity, Transport Nagar and Maqsudan Chowk.

Commuters have been forced to navigate roads with extreme caution, as these hazards are particularly dangerous during rainfall when submerged covers become invisible.

Residents have voiced their frustration over the inaction by the civic authorities. “During night, these open or uneven manholes could cause serious accidents,” said Bhushan Kumar, a local resident.

Street vendor Mahesh Singh from Maqsudan Chowk echos similar concerns, emphasising the danger posed to both pedestrians and drivers.

Commuters are demanding urgent intervention from the MC to repair or replace the damaged covers before more accidents occur. They have also called for regular inspections and better maintenance to prevent such incidents, especially when it rains