In a significant move to improve urban cleanliness and reduce the physical burden on its workforce, the Madurai Corporation has officially launched a dedicated nighttime cleaning drive across the city. This initiative, which began regular operations this week, follows successful trials conducted last year.
Easing the Morning Burden for Workers
Traditionally, sanitation workers in Madurai conducted their cleaning drives until the afternoon, with extended hours only in high-traffic tourist zones like the Meenakshi Amman Temple. The new nocturnal schedule is designed to fundamentally change this routine. Assistant City Health Officer Abishek explained that the night cleaning drive frees up valuable time for workers in the morning, allowing for earlier and more efficient door-to-door waste collection. He further added that it ensures dumper bins are emptied overnight, paving the way for a smoother and quicker clean-up process after sunrise.
Operational Details and Key Areas
The corporation has deployed a dedicated team for this after-hours mission. A force of 48 sanitation workers and 12 Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) will operate from 10 PM to 4 AM. Their focus will be on clearing waste from approximately 150 Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) identified across Madurai.
"As of now, we are targeting key areas such as Anna Nagar, around Periyar bus stand, and Kalavasal. These areas have a high intensity of garbage dumping," stated Abishek. The selection of these spots is strategic, aiming to tackle the most critical accumulation points before the city wakes up.
Benefits Beyond Sanitation
The advantages of the night shift extend beyond worker welfare and cleanliness. A corporation official highlighted a crucial logistical benefit: Nighttime cleaning makes transporting garbage to the Vellakal dumping ground easier due to significantly reduced traffic. This efficiency gain is twofold, as the movement of garbage trucks earlier in the morning also helps in reducing strain on the city's daytime traffic flow.
Looking ahead, the civic body is not resting on its initial success. Abishek revealed that there are plans to add an additional nighttime cleaning team. This expanded unit would focus on servicing interior and residential areas, broadening the reach and impact of the nightly cleaning initiative across Madurai.
