MCG Launches Rs 6.8 Crore Sanitation Tender as Prior Contracts Lapse
The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has initiated fresh tenders for manual road sweeping and related sanitation services, a move that coincides with the expiration of extended contracts for six private agencies. This timing has sparked concerns about potential disruptions in cleanliness operations across the city.
Details of the New Three-Month Contract
MCG has proposed a Rs 6.8 crore contract spanning three months, covering manual road sweeping, drain cleaning, and bush removal in zones 1, 2, 3, and 4. The contract mandates strict waste segregation into categories such as silt and dust, horticultural waste like dry leaves, biodegradable waste from markets, and non-biodegradable materials, including waste extracted from drains. All collected waste must be transported to designated secondary collection points.
Digital monitoring will be a key component, with agencies required to use the MCG portal to track road mapping, manpower deployment, and sweeping schedules. Daily reports with geo-tagged photographs of areas before and after sweeping must be uploaded and verified by officials to ensure accountability.
Timing Raises Questions and Resident Concerns
The tender was floated on Tuesday, the same day the extended contracts of the six private agencies expired. These agencies had previously received a six-month extension from September 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, at a cost of approximately Rs 127 crore, approved by Haryana's urban local bodies department. The lack of a buffer period has led to fears of a temporary gap in sweeping services.
Ward 4 councillor Pardeep Padam expressed alarm, stating, "MCG should have initiated this process at least a month in advance, given the contract end date was known. Inviting bids on the last day jeopardizes continuity, especially with existing shortages—for instance, Palam Vihar's sanitation workers have dropped from 137 to about 30." Residents worry this could escalate into a sanitation crisis if delays occur.
Official Response and Interim Measures
MCG officials have acknowledged the timing issue but assured that sanitation workers employed directly by the corporation will be deployed to fill any gaps until new agencies are finalized. Sunder Sheoran, MCG executive engineer for Swachh Bharat Mission, explained, "The contract extension ended, so we floated bids for a three-month manual sweeping plan. Our in-house workers will maintain services during the transition."
To oversee compliance, monitoring committees and ward-level task forces will be established, comprising councillors, sanitation inspectors, resident welfare association representatives, and market association members. These groups will supervise sanitation operations to ensure standards are met.
Cost Breakdown and Future Plans
The estimated costs for the work vary by zone: Rs 2.4 crore for Zone 1, Rs 1.46 crore for Zone 2, Rs 45 lakh for Zone 3, and Rs 2.5 crore for Zone 4. This short-term arrangement aims to maintain essential sanitation services, including regular road sweeping and drain cleaning, while MCG develops a longer-term strategy for sustainable waste management in Gurgaon.
