Residents of Chennai have raised alarms over damaged manholes in stormwater drains along many city roads during this monsoon. These broken manholes put pedestrians in danger. Despite multiple complaints registered on the GCC helpline 1913, repairs have not been done promptly. For example, a damaged manhole near Pantheon Road Bridge remains unrepaired since a complaint was filed last Friday. Ward 61 councillor Fatima Ahmed Muzaffer pointed out that many manholes on Langs Garden Road and Pantheon Road are broken. Officials said repairs will happen only after Pongal. She said, "The risk of injury to pedestrians is high, and it is life-threatening. The construction quality of manholes has to be improved. Manholes are constructed in a better way in foreign countries. I am planning to talk about this issue in the Council meeting." Nammazhwar from the Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Associations highlighted damages on Kolathur Balaji Nagar Main Road. He added, "We should explore the feasibility of steel manholes which may not get damaged easily. Cement concrete manholes get damaged." Ward 88 councillor G.V. Nagavalli stated that heavy vehicles moving over silt catch pits near manholes contribute to damage. Residents have asked the GCC to use stronger materials like steel. GCC Storm Water Drain Department officials said the city has sufficient manhole stock across its 15 zones. Damaged manholes will be replaced quickly once complaints come in. So far, over 1.5 lakh manholes have been created in stormwater drains citywide to help clean drains before the Northeast monsoon. The gap between manholes was cut from 10 meters to five meters to allow better cleaning, officials added.