A recent survey made in Bengaluru has made a shocking disclosure. According to the survey, on Bengaluru’s roads, there are 9,006 manholes that can prove fatal to motorists, as their covers either protrude above the road level or are below it. However, it seems Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which undertook the exercise in coordination with other utilities like Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Bescom, is now working on resolving them.
Doomsday for motorists
According to the officials, 7,651 of the faulty manholes and vaults were identified by the BBMP in the city’s eight zones, while the road infrastructure department found another 1,355 on major roads. While some manholes have already been fixed, the remaining will be rectified in another two months.
Time and again the activists have highlighted the issues pertaining to road infrastructures, they claim pothole chambers which are not at grade with the road surface are a major reason for accidents. Additionally, according to a data with BBMP, Doddanekkundi, the ward in Mahadevpura, has 140 such manhole chambers obstructing motorists moment. As these chambers have caused accidents during the rainy season, it becomes very difficult to identify them.
Reckless Manholes
According to data accessed by the survey, of the 9,006 manhole chambers, 2,277 have been rectified. Mahadevpura zone has the highest number of manholes at 1.756, followed by Rajarajeshwarinagara 1,566; including East and South zones which also have several such problematic manholes.
MR Venkatesh, chief engineer at BBMP said, “The chief secretary has asked us to work together with other government organizations and set things right by June end. Many manhole covers are 2 to 3 feet lower than the road level, while some are not even covered.”
Special commissioner Ravikumar Surpur said they will comply with the chief secretary’s order, and the work will begin soon after the poll code is a lifter. “We want to ensure that no damage or accident is caused by manhole chamber this monsoon,” he added.
Source: TOI
