The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has drafted a five-year roadmap to overhaul the city's sanitation system, proposing an expenditure of nearly Rs 450 crore on mechanised road sweeping, dedicated cleaning equipment, and a strengthened sanitation workforce. The plan aims to make Gurugram's roads and narrow lanes dust-free, addressing one of the city's most persistent civic complaints—poor cleanliness and roadside dust.
Proposal Sent to Haryana Government for Approval
The proposal has been sent to the Haryana government for approval, after which the civic body plans to begin the tendering process. Officials believe the long-term contract model will ensure continuity in sanitation services and encourage private agencies to invest in modern machinery instead of relying on temporary arrangements. Unlike the current system, where cleaning contracts are awarded for short durations, the new plan envisions a stable five-year arrangement requiring contractors to deploy advanced equipment complying with environmental norms.
Deployment of 72 Modern Road-Sweeping Machines
A key feature of the project is the deployment of 72 modern road-sweeping machines, the first such large-scale mechanised cleaning initiative by the MCG. Of these, 30 large machines will clean major arterial roads, while medium-sized machines will cover secondary roads. For congested residential colonies and narrow lanes where conventional vehicles cannot operate, the corporation plans to introduce small road-sweeping machines capable of accessing internal streets. Officials expect the new fleet to substantially improve cleanliness in areas that have remained difficult to maintain.
Integration of Manual and Mechanised Sweeping
To complement mechanised cleaning, the MCG plans to deploy around 2,500 sanitation workers for manual sweeping in locations inaccessible to machines, including narrow lanes, roadside edges, public spaces, and parks. Additionally, nearly 3,300 existing sanitation employees on the corporation's rolls will continue to be deployed separately, creating a multi-layered sanitation system combining manual and mechanised operations.
Alignment with Pollution Control Recommendations
Officials say the proposal has been designed keeping in view the recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), both of which have repeatedly stressed the need for mechanised road sweeping as an effective measure to reduce road dust—a major contributor to air pollution in the National Capital Region.
MCG Executive Engineer Sunder Ahlawat said, "The tendering process for deploying the 72 road-sweeping machines will begin after the proposal receives government approval." He added that the new system is expected to provide sustained improvements in sanitation standards while ensuring better compliance with environmental regulations.
Impact on Air Quality and Public Health
The proposed project comes at a time when Gurugram continues to battle high dust levels and poor air quality. Civic officials believe that replacing fragmented, short-term sanitation contracts with a comprehensive five-year mechanised cleaning programme could not only improve the city's appearance but also contribute to reducing particulate pollution and enhancing public health. If approved, it would mark one of the largest investments ever made by the MCG exclusively for urban cleanliness and road maintenance.
