Hyderabad catchpits positioned above or below road level have become accident-prone hazards across several parts of the city, with rainwater concealing uneven structures and increasing risks for motorists, particularly two-wheeler riders.
The problem has been reported across the 2,053-square-kilometre Core Urban Region Economy area, which includes the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri municipal corporations. Affected stretches include MCH Market Road in Ameerpet, Dharam Karam Road, Nallagandla Main Road, Dabeerpura, Narayanguda, Nalgonda X Road, Shaikpet and Filmnagar.
At several locations, catchpits are reportedly two to three feet above road level, while at others they are two to three feet below the surface. During rain, waterlogging makes the structures difficult to identify, causing vehicles to strike them even during short spells of rainfall.
Md. Mubeen, referring to a catchpit outside a private hospital on Nalgonda X Road, said he had seen a motorist fall because of the structure. “This has been an issue for two months,” he said. Another commuter, K. Ayansh, described hitting an uneven catchpit on Begumpet road while travelling towards Mayur Marg. He said he moved left to avoid a bus and could not see the catchpit because the road was waterlogged. He was able to control his motorcycle and avoid an accident.
The hazards have also exposed coordination gaps between agencies responsible for road restoration and catchpit maintenance. Enquiries with municipal engineers indicated that road restoration contracts are handled by one agency, while catchpit cleaning and maintenance are assigned to another. The separation has resulted in differences of two to three feet between road surfaces and catchpit levels at several locations.
Similar problems have been observed in colonies and slum areas, although catchpits on major roads pose a greater risk because motorists may be unfamiliar with their locations. Regular commuters on internal roads are more likely to know where uneven structures are located, while traffic movement and unfamiliar routes on main roads increase the danger.
A GHMC official said corrective work had been carried out at several locations by filling gaps between catchpits and road surfaces with bitumen or concrete. The official said that, even where a catchpit belongs to the water board, it is being painted red and adjusted to match the road height. Signages are also being placed at locations where work is under way.
Municipal officials said the measures being undertaken include levelling catchpits, marking hazardous structures and installing warning signs at work sites. The corrective work is intended to reduce the immediate risks to motorists while agencies address the differences between restored road surfaces and existing catchpit levels.
