Unsafe manholes in Trichy pose threat to 2-wheeler riders

TRICHY: Residents in the city have expressed fear over the unsafe manholes on underground drainage (UGD) chambers protruding from the roads, especially during the rainy season.
Residents said that in zone V, the manholes in Ponnagar are at least 5-10cm above the road’s surface. Two-wheelers are seen making risky manoeuvres to avoid bumps, with many skidding and falling on the roads. “Senior citizens using mopeds are the most vulnerable. We need a city-wide study. Such flaws should not be ignored, as manholes may even cause fatal accidents,” C Balasubramanian, secretary of the Karumandapam Exnora flood prevention committee said.
Similar manholes are found on Collector Office Road near ESI hospital in Periyamilaguparai as well. Two-wheeler riders face the risk of being run over by the buses in case of a fall, as the road is the entry point for mofussil buses to reach the Central bus stand. Residents added that Major Saravanan Road near Vestry school campus also has uneven manholes.
At night, the manholes are not visible. “As a permanent solution, we will level the manholes on a par with the road surface while relaying the road,” an official said.