HYDERABAD: Most commuters, at some point of time or the other, have run into manholes jutting out of the road or those that lie a few inches below the road level. Such manholes pose a risk for commuters and pedestrians. There have been instances when either pedestrians have fallen into manholes placed below the road level or bikers have skidded after running into manholes that are raised above the road level.However, there is some good news for pedestrians as well as motorists. Two major utility departments — Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) — have started rectifying such irregularlyplaced manholes using a technology called ‘bucket concrete mixer’.The biggest advantage of this method is that it helps in saving time and space.“Initially, on a pilot basis, the water board has chosen to fix two manhole covers on the Punjagutta-Khairatabad stretch, using this technology. It will carry out works in other parts of the city soon,” said M Prabhu, GM, HMWS&SB, O&M Division-VI (SR Nagar).After reviewing the work, the same technology will be used by the water board and civic body to replace 18,000 manhole covers on roads spanning lengths of 2,000 kilometres.Prabhu said, using the technology, lowered or raised manhole covers would be removed. Then the area around the manholes would be filled with concrete, after which the cover would be placed exactly parallel to the surface of the road.“Traffic will be not allowed to ply over the manhole cover for about 24 hours to enable the concrete mix to dry. Barricades will also be put up near the manholes, as a precautionary measure,” said a water board official.“The cost of bucket concrete mixer to fix each manhole is Rs 15,000,” said a water board official. “The work of reconstruction of two manholes under the new technology will be completed on Sunday. M Dana Kishore, MD of HMWS&SB MD, is inspecting the work at the site,” said G Saritha, deputy GM, HMWS&SB ( Somajiguda section).

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