PMC launches drive to secure damaged manholes

Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) initiated a citywide repair drive on Feb 24 to secure damaged manholes following the recent deaths of two children, one in Phulwari Sharif and another due to an uncovered manhole in Naubatpur.

These fatalities exposed a gap between municipal safety mandates and ground reality, where protocols often exist only on paper.PMC commissioner Yashpal Meena ordered all executive officers, engineers and sanitation inspectors to conduct physical field visits across all 75 wards to identify and replace every broken cover on a war footing. “Citizen safety is the absolute priority of this administration, and no negligence will be tolerated in ensuring that every open hazard is permanently secured; all officials must deliver visible results within stipulated timelines and ensure that high-quality infrastructure solutions are implemented across every zone to prevent any further loss of life,” said Meena.The civic body established a toll-free helpline and a WhatsApp chatbot for residents to report remaining hazards. This drive seeks to address approximately 85,000 manholes and 65,000 catchpits across the city, replacing traditional lids with durable precast structures to improve long-term resilience and pedestrian safety.Existing guidelines require agencies to use steel mesh, reflective tapes and sturdy barricades at all work sites, yet residents in areas such as Khemnichak and Rajiv Nagar continue to report deep trenches and open pits guarded only by unsteady bamboo sticks. Projects managed by various govt and private agencies face scrutiny for failing to follow excavation safety norms, often leaving roads in a dilapidated state without warning signs or lighting.