Visakhapatnam: Uneven manholes pose danger

Visakhapatnam: The uneven manholes that are found all over the city could pose a major threat to motorists when roads are inundated after a shower. On arterial roads, and even some main roads, manhole lids are uneven. They either jut out above the surface of the road, or they have sunk in, forming a pothole.

Durga Rao, a resident of Dandu Bazaar near Jagadamba Junction, says, “Though not fatal, they are bad enough to cause falls. They can be dangerous during the rainy season. In other seasons, we can negotiate the manholes. But when the roads are flooded, we end up hitting the manholes because we cannot see them. Motorists, especially those who ride two-wheelers, face a major risk.”

Some elderly persons have also expressed fear for their safety. “While walking on the road, we keep anticipating uneven manholes and wonder if they have been properly fixed or not. Youngsters who ride bikes above the speed limit need to be careful. Hitting manholes could be fatal for them. It is very hazardous during the monsoon,” says M. Ravana, a retired bank employee and a resident of MVP Colony.

The city's roads have been tarred as part of maintenance works, but the GVMC seems to have neglected the levelling of manholes. An official of the GVMC says, "We have been maintaining manholes properly. Fully levelling manholes with the road is difficult in many stretches because of uneven roads. But we are ensuring that these issues do not create any problems.”