Broken manholes open invitation to mishaps in city

Despite being aware of the fact that broken manhole covers are an invitation to mishaps, the municipal corporation and other authorities concerned have failed to pay attention to the menace in the city.

Though some people have become victims of manholes with broken covers, no steps have been taken by the authorities concerned. Not only repairing broken manholes but also conducting surveys from time to time to gauge their condition have taken a backseat.

A broken cover of a manhole that was constructed by a telecom company on a road that leads to Prince Hostel from the back of Police Lines is crying for attention. Residents claim, “No action has been taken by the telecom company or the MC to replace the cover. It seems they are a waiting for big mishap.”

Similarly, the cover of a gully near Old Courts chowk is broken, inviting mishap on the road that leads to Lakkar Bridge. Also, a missing cover of a manhole near MC’s Zone C office is an invitation to mishaps, though mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria has directed officials to replace it.

Recently, there was a cave-in on the road that leads to Jalandhar Bypass near the MC’s Zone A office. Though it was repaired by the MC, the cave-in has started to appear again now. Besides, a tilted cover of manhole is also an invitation to mishaps outside Khalsa College for Women as two-wheeler riders generally lose their balance while crossing the manhole.

Another broken cover of gully outside an institute on Hambran Road near Kitchlu Nagar is posing threat for commuters.

Ex-Serviceman Welfare Society senior member Major Sher Singh Aulakh (retd) said the authorities concerned should replace the broken covers of manholes and gullies at the earliest. People should also inform the authorities so that required steps could be taken to avoid any mishap.

“We have observed that some manholes have been constructed above the road level, while many manholes have gone below the road surface. The MC should bring the manholes on road level so that untoward incident can be avoided,” he said.

Some of the councillors, including Balkar Singh, have raised the matter in past, but the MC is yet to take action.

Gurpreet Gogi, councillor of ward number 53, said, “Covers of many manholes are broken in my ward, but no steps have been taken to replace them. I have complained several times, but all in vain. The manhole near Khalsa College for Women and Dhodha Sweets are also an invitation to mishaps. These manholes pose a threat to the life of people. The MC officials should pay attention to the menace at the earliest.”

The mayor and MC commissioner Pradeep Agarwal were not available for comments.