The Hindu 03.01.2014
GHMC for sweeping changes on the roads
Amid growing complaints of dust causing problems to
motorists, apart from potholes and craters on city roads, the Greater
Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is planning to reinforce its
sanitation units by adding five more sweeping machines while undertaking
the refurbishment of its existing fleet.
The civic body proposes to acquire new sweeping machines on Buy, Operate and Own (BOO) basis.
The current fleet comprises five big and 26 small sweeping machines that are used on main roads.
According
to officials, administrative sanction is awaited for acquisition of new
machines, and once it is received, the process of finalising the
operators will be worked out.
“The BOO mode will mean
that we do not have to spend on buying these machines. The contractors
will come with the vehicles, and we pay for the services on hourly
basis,” an official said.
For its present fleet, the
civic body is paying Rs. 1,100 per hour to operators for big sweeping
machines and Rs. 690 for smaller machines. “The amount includes diesel
and maintenance charges,” he said.
Meanwhile, the
existing fleet is being sent for refurbishment in phases, and, at
present, one big and six small sweeping machines are off the road for
the purpose.
The maintenance and servicing exercise
will be completed in two months till which time cleaning of roads will
be taken up using the available machines.
Motorists
of late have been facing problems of dust on city roads and streets and
several were ending up with complaints of red and burning eyes,
sneezing, cough and allergies.
A senior official with
the sanitation wing of the GHMC said the bad road conditions also were
to blame for the dust and added: “If the roads are in good condition,
then even the effort to sweep them also will be more fruitful.”
Civic body plans to acquire new sweeping machines on Buy, Operate and Own basis
