Safety of citizens most essential to infra projects

Screen grab of the woman as she fell into the duct. Thankfully the woman was pulled out by others before she fell completely in

A woman fell into a duct filled with water at the site of Metro construction in Andheri (W). She was saved and is well, a report said in this paper.

There was a cable duct of utilities, the lid of which had been removed by some anti-social elements, stated an official. The woman fell inside and, to her good fortune, was rescued by some people.

The ward officials have claimed that they have now covered the duct once again, but the incident must ring warning bells across wherever Metro work is on across the city.

For instance, how was this cover removed? Is there a case for non-movable covers? Digging work, open stretches on pavements or roads for infrastructure must have good signage warning the public that work is on in that particular stretch. If there is a potential to barricade, then, it is important we use barricades for a spot. Here, of course we will have to remember a very unfortunate and tragic incident when a doctor lost his life after falling into an open manhole in the rains some years ago.

At that time Mumbai was submerged and visibility too was a problem. The manhole cover had been removed by some people who thought their inane action will help flood waters subside faster.

Post that incident, there were plenty of questions raised about how the lid could be removed and the civic authorities should move in for fixed covers and why that has not happened for so many years.

We need to safeguard the citizens who already have so many challenges when they walk on our roads.

While the Metro duct accident may be different it surely falls within these kinds of mishaps. Human life and limbs are very precious. Let us put this on the top of our safety for citizens charts.