DSCC trials fibre manhole covers to curb tk 40 crore annual thefts

Staff Reporter :

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) is switching from iron to fibre manhole covers to combat rampant thefts costing nearly taka 40 crore yearly, alongside preventing accidents for residents.

Thieves target iron covers at night, leaving open manholes across the capital, like in Bakshibazar Road, posing serious hazards.

DSCC has begun installing fibre alternatives in wards 66 and 67, which are worthless for scrap and thus theft-resistant.

These covers tested and certified by BUET, match iron’s load-bearing capacity at a fraction of the cost.

DSCC’s supervising engineer Dr. Mohammad Safiullah Siddique Bhuiyan stated they could save the government over taka30 million annually, marking a major shift.

Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Mahbubur Rahman Talukder added that recognising the plastic-like material will deter thieves, as daily thefts plague the city.

DSCC plans three categories: 5-10 tonnes for footpaths, 15-20 tonnes for alleys, and 25-30 tonnes for main roads.