Better late than never. That’s the lesson Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) seems to have learnt from its past mistakes and is now eager to rectify them.

Last year, the state capital saw several accidents, two of which were fatal, when people fell into open manholes. This time, the PMC does not want to take chances with 500 gaping manholes and 200 catchpits in the capital.

The corporation recently floated tenders, inviting contractors to repair and cover around 1,600 manholes and 500 catchpits across the city before monsoon arrives. “Tenders worth Rs 1.45 crore were floated on divisional basis and contracts are being awarded now. We want the contractors to finish the work by June 15. We are cleaning clogged drains for easy passage of rainwater,” said Ramswarath Singh, chief engineer, PMC.

Sources said the state government used to give funds to the PMC every year to desilt drains, cover catchpits and manholes. The practice was stopped last year, forcing the PMC to manage the project from its coffers. “We are getting the work done on a massive scale after two years with our funds,” said Singh. All PMC circles have prepared estimates of work ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 70 lakh.

“Temporary kutcha drains have been constructed in absence of a storm water drainage network,” added the official. Sources said manholes and uncovered ditches are found in all divisions of the state capital. “Lids of manholes often break or get stolen or are left open after desiltation,” Singh said.

Residents complained about open manholes on Bank Road, Anugrah Narayan Sinha Library Road, Boring Road, Boring Canal Road, Patliputra Road, and Main Road of Patna City. “Open manholes are a big menace for pedestrians. It’s good that PMC has now woken up to the menace and is putting lids on the gaping drains,” said Sanchit Kumar, a telecom executive in Buddha Colony.