The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has secured government approval for a phased release of funds. This money will go toward buying 70 compact mechanical road sweepers and 1,000 battery-operated litter picker machines. The goal is to tackle dust pollution before next winter arrives.
Massive Investment for Cleaner Air
The total estimated cost for this project stands at a staggering Rs 1,487 crore. The Delhi government's grant-in-aid scheme will provide this entire amount. Officials plan to sanction Rs 251 crore during the current financial year. They will release the remaining funds in subsequent phases.
Project Timeline and Approvals
A corporation official provided details on the approval process. "Following an in-principle approval from the environment minister last November for tendering purposes, the Delhi cabinet gave its final nod to the project last month," the official stated. The environment secretary made an official declaration on December 30, confirming that the Department of Environment and Forests will release the funds.
The civic agency received specific directions. It must prepare the nomenclature for the proposed machinery, clearly specifying its features and how it functions. "Our teams recently visited Mumbai to study how these compact machines work," the official added. "Details of our project will soon be placed before the house for review."
Racing Against the Winter Clock
The corporation expects to start the tendering process as early as next month. This aggressive timeline aims to ensure procurement is complete before October or November. Pollution levels in Delhi typically rise sharply during these months.
With the addition of these 70 new machines, the corporation's total fleet of mechanical road sweepers will double. It will reach 140 units by this November. Currently, 52 sweepers are operational. The agency likely will procure 18 more by the end of January.
Strategic Deployment on Delhi's Roads
The new sweepers will primarily clean roads wider than 60 feet. This deployment strategy will receive a significant boost from a parallel plan. The Public Works Department also intends to procure 70 sweepers for roads within its own jurisdiction.
This move will free up the Municipal Corporation to focus exclusively on its own road network. Currently, the corporation uses its sweepers to clean PWD roads, which are usually wider than 60 feet.
Targeting Different Areas with Specialized Machines
The plan involves deploying the 1,000 vacuum litter pickers at major markets and busy public places. Meanwhile, the 70 new mechanical sweepers will clean approximately 6,000 kilometers of roads. These roads, which are between 30 and 60 feet wide, span across 12 different zones in the city.
Innovative Service Outsourcing Model
The project for procuring the sweepers includes comprehensive operation and maintenance. It will operate under a service outsourcing model. A letter from the environment secretary to the corporation outlined the details. The sweepers will be either electric or CNG-based.
"The litter pickers will be engaged for the life of the machines or for eight to ten years under this model," the letter stated. In this innovative financial model, a third-party vendor funds, installs, and maintains the assets. The civic agency then pays for the service over an extended period. This approach avoids the need for a large upfront capital investment.
Additional Measures for Waste Sites and Air Monitoring
The government also granted approval for improving 106 primary sites that collect construction and demolition waste. The improvements will include installing metal barricading sheets, informatory boards, water sprinklers, and CCTV cameras at these locations.
Furthermore, the plan includes installing air quality sensors and sprinkler systems at 40 specific locations across Delhi. These measures aim to provide better monitoring and immediate dust suppression where needed.
