After a gap of three years, Chennai Corporation is set to resume tracking of garbage trucks using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.
The pinpoint technology will help the civic agency improve its services and also respond effectively to complaints.
As many as 743 vehicles, including garbage trucks, will be fitted with the satellite navigation system next month. “The earlier project to track garbage trucks failed in 2011. The new system will involve privatisation of the entire process. A private player will fit the equipment, maintain it for one year and offer other services with the compiled data,” said an official of Chennai Corporation.
The civic body will spend at least Rs. 90 lakh for the utilisation of the satellite navigation system in the 743 vehicles for one year.
The satellite navigation system will facilitate quick response to any emergency, including major disasters in the city.
The system will also facilitate identification of deficiencies in the solid waste management services offered by Chennai Corporation. The monitoring of the quantity of municipal solid waste collected in each locality and the rate of removal will be easier with the operation of the satellite navigation system.
“Lorries that remove construction debris will also be tracked this time. Any vehicle that dumps debris in a water body will be tracked. We will stop such illegal dumping of debris or municipal solid waste after the system starts operation,” said the official.
The private operator will also fit the navigation system in most of the inspection vehicles. “Tracking of officials who misuse the vehicles will also be easier,” the official added.
Separate personnel will be hired for compiling and analysing the data generated by the satellite navigation system.