Bengaluru's ambitious kasa kiosk initiative has failed to expand on a large scale. The project aimed to fix garbage blackspots across the city. Multiple agencies have worked on it for over seven years with little success.
Current Status of Kiosks
Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) currently operates just four kiosks. These serve five city corporations. One kiosk is located in Koramangala. Three more function in Banashankari.
Bheemesh Nayak serves as the deputy general manager of BSWML. He confirmed two additional kiosks in Chickpet are ready to open. Nayak explained the typical setup process.
"We usually set up a kiosk at a spot where garbage is dumped, giving rise to a black spot," he said. "The kiosk is manned by a worker and is open for eight hours – 4 each in the morning and evening. The timings are decided based on requirements at the specific spot."
Costs and Funding Challenges
Each kiosk costs over Rs 1 lakh to establish. Maintenance requires additional funds. NGOs have approached BSWML to run kiosks under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Nayak shared future plans. "Around 75 kiosks will be set up by BSWML using its own grants. The rest will be done by NGOs. Talks are still at the initial stages," he stated. He blamed design finalization delays and fabrication issues for slowing the project's growth.
Pilot Projects and Setbacks
The first kasa kiosk opened in 2018. NGO Saahas Zero Waste launched it on a pilot basis on Wind Tunnel Road. Another pilot project started in Koramangala in 2020.
Sunitha Jayaram works as the programme director at Saahas. She described the Koramangala site. "The spot near the regional passport office was a major blackspot, with waste from three wards dumped every day. This kiosk operated for three years before getting damaged in a fire accident," Jayaram said.
She noted a new kiosk recently opened at the same location. This followed the formation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
Purpose and Design of Kiosks
City planners conceptualized kasa kiosks to fill gaps in Bengaluru's waste-collection system. Residents who miss collection vehicles can dispose of waste at these kiosks.
Each kiosk currently features eight bins. They collect four waste types:
- Wet waste
- Dry waste
- Sanitary waste
- Hazardous waste
The kiosks also include a fan, an exhaust fan, and a mobile phone charging point. These amenities aim to improve functionality and user experience.
The initiative shows promise but faces significant scaling challenges. Limited implementation after seven years highlights persistent issues in Bengaluru's waste management efforts.
