In a significant move to combat dust pollution, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to deploy 14 new mechanical road sweepers (MRS) across the national capital. The acquisition, funded by the Central Government under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), marks a crucial step in the city's ongoing efforts to improve air quality.
Expanding the Cleaning Fleet
The new machines are expected to hit the city's roads and begin operations by the second week of December, according to officials. In a further boost to the initiative, the Centre has also cleared the purchase of four additional sweepers under the Urban Development Fund. This expansion will increase the total fleet size to 70 mechanical road sweepers by the end of the current financial year.
"We are waiting for the revised sanction letter from the Delhi Development Authority, after which the work order will be placed," an official stated, highlighting the procedural steps remaining for the four extra units.
Strategic Deployment on Key Corridors
Currently, a fleet of 52 MRS units is operational on roads wider than 60 feet. These machines work in multiple shifts, and their movements are closely monitored through a digital tracking system to ensure efficiency and coverage.
To maximize their impact on dust reduction, officials have realigned the routes of these sweepers across major traffic corridors. The focus is on high-visibility areas, including trunk roads, Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, and peripheral arterials.
While a Public Works Department (PWD) proposal for wall-to-wall mechanical cleaning of all wide roads has received cabinet approval, it is yet to be fully implemented. In anticipation, the MCD has strategically focused its deployment on 29 major stretches across the city.
Targeting Pollution Hotspots
Of the existing 52 sweepers, a concentrated force of 44 machines is already deployed on key corridors and known pollution hotspots. The targeted areas include:
- Ring Road and Outer Ring Road
- Najafgarh Road and Rohtak Road
- Kishangarh Road and KN Katju Marg
- Aruna Asaf Ali Marg and Ridge Road
- Vikas Marg
The remaining eight sweepers have been distributed across different zones to service local stretches and ensure a wider area of coverage.
This enhanced mechanical sweeping initiative represents a concrete effort by the MCD to address the perennial problem of dust, a major contributor to Delhi's poor air quality, especially during the winter months.
