New Delhi: The fatal Janakpuri incident has put the spotlight on a citywide problem — open and inadequately barricaded pits that continue to endanger pedestrians and commuters across Delhi, a TOI ground check has found. On Mathura Road, near Bharat Mandapam and Pragati Maidan, an open pit filled with water has remained unattended for over six weeks. Locals said the pit was created after a pipeline burst and has since been left exposed, with water overflowing onto the road. The only protection is a stretch of loose caution tape. “The repair work has been at a snail’s pace. Workers come for a couple of days and then vanish for long stretches,” a resident said, adding that the pit is believed to be around 18 ft deep. For two-wheeler riders, the danger increases significantly after sunset. Ravi Kumar, a 35-year-old biker from Usmanpur who works with an aggregator platform, said fog and low visibility make such stretches hazardous. “At night, it becomes very risky. Pits, dug-up stretches, potholes — they are everywhere. We also have to balance the vehicle depending on how the customer sits,” he said. For daily commuters, these hazards have become part of everyday travel. Rupak Rathi (30), who takes Mathura Road, said the lack of timely action by civic agencies has had serious consequences across Delhi-NCR. Referring to the recent death of a tech worker in Noida whose car crashed into an open pit, he said, “Incidents like this are a daily affair now.” Similar gaps in safety were seen at other sites. In Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar IV, barricades were placed several steps after the pit began, making them easy to miss for both pedestrians and bikers, particularly in the evening. Locals said the work has been ongoing for a little over a week but the progress has been extremely slow. Govind Vallabh, 66, another resident, said prolonged pauses in the work heighten the risk to residents and commuters. “They leave the work unfinished for long periods,” he said. Aakash (24), a commuter, recounted a narrow escape while returning home in a cab. “There was debris everywhere. On one side was the pit; on the other was a wall. We got through with inches to spare.” On Turkman Road, near Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, a large open pit was found with sections of the safety net pulled down. Mud and debris had spilled onto the footpath and road, offering little protection to pedestrians or vehicles. “The work might be necessa-ry, but it’s being carried out without proper safety measures,” said Ashok Shukla (47), who runs a grocery shop. Several other locations — including Janpath and South Extension — had barricades, but gaps and displaced barriers left enough room for pedestrians or bikers to stumble into excavation sites, especially after dark.
