34 machines to sweep Bengaluru roads

The BBMP will deploy 34 mechanical sweeping machines within two months to clean city roads.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike already has eight machines for each zone, which are in use since May 2017. The civic body will buy 17 more and rent another 17. The large truck-mounted mechanical sweeping machines will be used to clean the 500 km arterial roads of the city.

The corporation says one machine can do the job of 100 Pourakarmikas.

The machines come with large brushes at the bottom with a suction mechanism. The big machines can sweep 50 km per day and the self-propelled smaller ones can sweep 30 km a day. This way, around 300 km of roads can be cleaned every day.

Speaking to DH, D Randeep, Special Commissioner (Solid Waste Management), BBMP, said, “The proposal to buy 17 mechanical sweeping machines and rent another 17 has been approved. Once the machines are procured, they will be handed over to the zonal engineers of the road infrastructure department.”

The sweeping machines will cost around Rs 70 lakh each.

“The existing machines have been functioning smoothly in the eight zones,” he said.

Another official said, “The machines will be equipped with GPS navigation systems to make the mopping of the city easier for the operators. The machines are monitored through a video facility, based on which we pay the contractors."

“The roads in the city are often covered in mud, causing a lot of inconvenience to commuters. Ongoing road repairs and other works add to the existing dust and pollution. The machines will help improve the condition of such roads and prevent dust and pollution. Even Pourakarmikas who used to be affected by dust are now less at risk after the machines were introduced.”