MCD to hire a consultant to prepare a Rs 62-crore plan on how to keep Delhi roads clean

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to take a significant step towards enhancing the upkeep of its major roads. As per a TOI report, this week, the MCD will initiate the process of selecting a project management consultant for a comprehensive plan worth Rs 62 crore aimed at mechanized sweeping and maintenance of over 1,400 km of roads with a width exceeding 60 feet within the city.

Presently, the responsibility for maintaining these roads lies with the Public Works Department. However, sanitation services, including garbage clearance and road sweeping, fall under the jurisdiction of the MCD. The proposed project is ambitious, encompassing a ten-year plan for road maintenance, desilting, cleaning, and the sweeping of footpaths.

According to an MCD official, "The project management consultant we appoint will work with us for a decade and will assist us in every way, beginning with the finalization of the detailed project report, preparation of the financial estimates, invitation of bids, and assessment of the quality of work done by the selected concessionaire."


Under this plan, either the MCD or the appointed concessionaire will shoulder the responsibility for comprehensive road cleaning, employing state-of-the-art mechanical road sweepers. Tasks will include clearing overgrown vegetation from pavements and central verges, collecting material swept from the roads and surplus soil from the central verges, washing pavements, and using anti-smog guns and sprinklers.

The official further explained, "We have conducted extensive research to outline crucial points for the final plan. For instance, we will include the categorization of sanitation services in MCD's 12 zones, specifying the types and quantities of vehicles needed for various functions."

This initiative comes after the Public Works Department had sought the MCD's opinion on taking over the cleaning of major roads following the Delhi government's announcement of its ambitious road revamp projects worth Rs 20,000 crore over the next decade during the budget presentation on March 29.

In response, the MCD cited Clause 42 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, which designates road cleaning as an obligatory function of the municipality. It clarified that the management of municipal solid waste, green waste, swept waste, silt, and garbage removal had been entrusted to private concessionaires.

On May 2, the MCD House approved the continuation of road services. However, the final decision rests with the Lieutenant Governor, who holds the authority to make changes to this arrangement, as confirmed by officials.