In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that it is all set to install smart sensors over manholes by August-end.
This development comes in order to detect theft of covers, monitor sewage levels as well as prevent accidents.
Giving its nod to the pilot project, the civic body has issued work orders to install sensors over manholes, which will go off if someone tries to remove the covers.
As a part of its pilot project, it will be installed at 14 locations in Mumbai. The project cost pegged at INR 12 lakh.
Of the total, most numbers of smart sensors will be installed in the city’s F/south ward, which comprises Parel, followed by G/South, which includes Worli and Prabhadevi. Meanwhile, seven sensors will be installed at locations within the F/South ward, four sensors will be set up in the G/south ward followed by one each in the C, D and E wards which comprise Bhuleshwar, Grant Road and Byculla respectively.
Explaining further, officials stated that if anybody tries to remove the cover, the sensors will send a message to our control room — there are three — raising alarm. Alerted, a team will rush to the location.
Besides, they are also working on a local alarm, which will go off and create a sound, alerting even the locals at the place.
Read More: BMC Issues Helpline Numbers For Complaints Against Open Manholes
The siren will go off only when an attempt to extract the cover is made and that there won’t be any false alarm even if a heavy load such as a passing car makes it tilt.
Furthermore, the civic body is also exploring the option of monitoring the sewage levels to prevent overflowing.
Of the 14 locations, the civic body will set up systems to monitor sewage levels in four manholes.
It is pertinent to note that Mumbai has over one lakh manhole covers, which are used to shield the entry and exit points of the network of stormwater drains (SWD) and sewerage channels that run underneath the road surfaces. Of these, 74,000 cover sewerage channels.
Also Read: Stainless-steel grille to be installed at 74,000 manholes in Mumbai: BMC
Civic body data shows theft of these covers has risen exponentially over the past four years. Stolen with the intention of selling them in scrap, manholes without covers often result in injuries to people and, in unfortunate cases, fatalities.
Also Read: It'll take a year to install protective grillers on manholes across Mumbai: BMC
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