Amid growing complaints of dust causing problems to motorists, apart from potholes and craters on city roads, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is planning to reinforce its sanitation units by adding five more sweeping machines while undertaking the refurbishment of its existing fleet.
The civic body proposes to acquire new sweeping machines on Buy, Operate and Own (BOO) basis. The current fleet comprises five big and 26 small sweeping machines that are used on main roads.
According to officials, administrative sanction is awaited for acquisition of new machines, and once it is received, the process of finalising the operators will be worked out. “The BOO mode will mean that we do not have to spend on buying these machines. The contractors will come with the vehicles, and we pay for the services on hourly basis,” an official said.
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For its present fleet, the civic body is paying Rs. 1,100 per hour to operators for big sweeping machines and Rs. 690 for smaller machines. “The amount includes diesel and maintenance charges,” he said.
Meanwhile, the existing fleet is being sent for refurbishment in phases, and, at present, one big and six small sweeping machines are off the road for the purpose. The maintenance and servicing exercise will be completed in two months till which time cleaning of roads will be taken up using the available machines.
Motorists of late have been facing problems of dust on city roads and streets and several were ending up with complaints of red and burning eyes, sneezing, cough and allergies. A senior official with the sanitation wing of the GHMC said the bad road conditions also were to blame for the dust and added: “If the roads are in good condition, then even the effort to sweep them also will be more fruitful.”
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