New garbage collection agency to begin full-scale operations this week

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

After a wait of two months, the Gujarat-based company Western Imaginary Company (WIC) will commence its operations in the city from May 2 (Saturday). As many as 507 vehicles will be deployed on the roads simultaneously. The waste collection project will be formally inaugurated on May 1 in the evening by guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat. The municipal corporation has spent approximately Rs 32 crore to provide transfer stations and other essential infrastructure to the company for waste collection operations.

In an effort to ensure that the historic city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, known as a tourism capital, remains clean and visually appealing, the contract was awarded to WIC, which also operates in Ahmedabad. Compared to the previous contractor, the Reddy Company, this firm will be paid nearly three times the amount. The company has been preparing for the past two months and has already brought around 525 vehicles into the city. Transfer stations at Ramnagar, N-12, and Shivajinagar are now fully ready.

The inauguration has been scheduled for May 1, while daily operations will begin from 6 am on May 2. According to deputy commissioner (solid waste management) Nandkishore Bhombe, 412 bell-ringing garbage collection vehicles (ghantagadis) will begin door-to-door collection across 29 prabhags. Fixed routes have been assigned to each vehicle, and any deviation will be tracked through a GPS system, with alerts sent to the company’s control room.

Bhombe said that both the company and the municipal corporation will ensure that no garbage is seen anywhere in the city. He also expressed confidence that under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the city will rank among the top ten cleanest cities in the country next year.

Rs 32 crore investment by the municipal corporation

The corporation has purchased 12 advanced capsule-type vehicles for waste transportation at a cost of Rs 18 crore. In addition, Rs 32 crore has been spent on transfer stations, hook loaders, electric DP systems, and other basic infrastructure.

Vehicles to be deployed

412 ghantagadis

50 transport vehicles

18 tippers

6 hook loaders

12 capsule vehicles and

9 JCB machines