Open manhole on Shivam Road poses serious threat

​Hyderabad: Apparently, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation officials seem to be waiting for a phone call on the civic body’s helpline, from Shivam Road residents and commuters for carrying out repairs on an open manhole and storm water drain.

The uncovered manhole, which is less than 50 metres away from the Shivam Road bus stop, continues to remain open despite several complaints lodged with the civic body. With the gaping manhole overflowing regularly, residents fear it could spell doom for pedestrians and especially school children who board their buses there.

Shivam Road constantly bustles with traffic as it connects Amberpet, Osmania University and Nallakunta. Thousands of commuters, especially school children take this road to reach their destination. Interestingly, there is no footpath here and people are forced to walk on the main road.

K Kamal Prasad, a tea vendor, says he accidentally slipped in to the uncovered storm water drain during the recent rains as he could not differentiate between the open drain and the steadily flowing rainwater.

Prasad says that schools have reopened and the area adjacent to the open manhole and nala is a pickup point for several private schools buses. "If the GHMC authorities do not wake up now, the manhole and nala might result in a tragedy.

There is also an RTC bus stop at a distance of less than 50 metres from the manhole,” said Prasad. "During a traffic jam, vehicles try to escape congestion by using every corner of the stretch. When it rains, the open nala and uncovered manhole are impossible to identify.

And there is no sign board to warn either about the manhole or the open nala,” said S Kiran Babu, a resident of Bathukamma Kunta. When the issue was brought to the notice of GHMC officials, they said that the corporation has been covering every manhole on a priority basis. The official also promised that the problem would be rectified within 24 hours.

By: Maddy Deekshith