In a move aimed at tackling Delhi’s persistent dust pollution and reducing manual road cleaning on busy stretches, Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi on Tuesday flagged off eight new truck-mounted Mechanical Road Sweeping (MRS) machines from the Civic Centre, expanding the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s mechanised sanitation fleet.
The machines, procured under the Centre’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), would primarily be deployed on roads with a right of way of 60 feet or more to increase the coverage and frequency of mechanised sweeping across the city.
Speaking at the launch event, Wahi said the move formed part of efforts to modernise Delhi’s sanitation infrastructure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
“With rising concerns over dust pollution in Delhi, these machines will help improve road cleanliness and contribute towards better air quality,” the Mayor said.
Apart from reducing roadside dust, the mechanised sweepers are also expected to improve safety conditions for sanitation workers by limiting manual cleaning on high-speed roads and central verges.
Deputy Mayor Monika Pant, Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma, Leader of the House Jai Bhagwan Yadav, IVP leader Mukesh Goyal and MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar were present at the event.
According to the MCD, each machine has been procured at a cost of Rs 58.69 lakh and has an estimated operational lifespan of 10 years. Officials said IIT Delhi carried out quality inspections of the vehicles before their induction into the fleet.
The civic body said the machines would operate under a comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) model to ensure regular upkeep and efficient deployment.
