The Hindu 25.02.2010
New garbage stations, public utilities for New Delhi
Manisha Jha
| To save on construction and maintenance costs as well as earn revenue |
NEW DELHI: To save on construction and maintenance costs as well as earn revenue, the New Delhi Municipal Council proposes to set up 85 new garbage stations and public toilet utility blocks on a public-private partnership basis north of Rajpath.
The project envisages construction of 25 new toilet blocks and renovation of 42 existing ones. In addition, 18 garbage stations will be constructed, renovated, operated and maintained with advertisement rights in the NDMC area and thrown open to the public free of charge.
Though the civic body had approved the project in June 2008 and invited bids for 113 public toilet utilities, work could not be completed and had to be cancelled midway last September leading to floating of fresh bids for 85 PTUs. The renovation period for the already constructed units will be one month and for units yet to be constructed six months from the commencement date.
During this period, the concessionaire will be expected to complete the project as per the requirements, technical specifications and standards.
The civic body will be earning a concession fee of Rs.26.53 lakh per month from the project with an escalation of 5 per cent every year after the first year for the entire concession period of 10 years.
“These public toilet utilities will be renovated and constructed keeping in mind facilities for persons with physical disabilities, and operation of these units by the concessionaire will include regular cleaning of the utilities and their surrounding areas, functioning of user amenities, provision of dedicated personnel, supervision, ensuring availability of basic infrastructure requirements such as electricity, proper drainage, sewage and water removal. In return, the concessionaire will be given the right to collect revenue from advertisements on a specified area of the toilets,” said an NDMC official.
