Mechanised sweepers to clean pilgrim city

- 27 km road stretch to be covered under mechanised sweeping
- MCT to take up novel ‘Micro Pockets’ initiative

Tirupati: Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) is all set to introduce mechanisation under Smart City project for sanitation and upkeep to ensure clean environment to enhance the famous pilgrim city image.

Accordingly, mechanised sweeping will be taken up soon in a total of 27 km long distance covering all the roads in the city. On an average, about one lakh pilgrims from various corners of the country and abroad daily visiting the city on pilgrimage to Tirumala, while the constant flow of VVIPs coupled with the city expanding rapidly adding more to the burden of the corporation health wing which with limited staff fighting virtually with its back to the wall to maintain the upkeep of the city.

In the last three months, the city witnessed three major congregation including Brahmotsavam, Indian Science Congress and Vaikunta Ekadasi Dwadasi religious fete in Tirumala which alone saw two lakh visiting for darshan and also CM (7 times), President, Prime Minister, foreign dignitaries, leave alone the trips of ministers both central and state and various government official teams and legislative committees and adding to the burden of the department.

However, the corporation is having only a 210 regular and 649 contract or outsourcing employees for up keep of roads and streets, drain maintenance and garbage clearance apart from the additional works like sanitising the routes on which the VIPs pass and also cleanliness in the areas where the VIPs stay and attend programmes which has become almost a daily affair these days.

Among the 210 regular employees, more than fifty per cent were spared to office and supervisory work leaving only about 600-650 workers (deducting those on leave etc.) to look after the sanitation, upkeep garbage clearance and additional works due to VIPs visit, said corporation commissioner V Vinay Chand.

A chunk of workers have to be engaged for garbage clearing i.e. solid waste removal from bins to load them in tractors and transporting them dump yard at C Ramapuram which is 8 km away from the city.

‘The smart city project came in handy for us for introducing novel mechanised sweeping,’ he said adding the path was laid for taking up it with the administrative sanction and tenders for the works to be completed.

“The MCT has to only supervise the work i.e. mechanised sweeping as the contractor has to take care of the entire gambit i.e engaging machines and staff to operate it,” he said beamingly.

The road to be covered under mechanised sweeping include Sankarambadi circle to Nandi circle, Kapilatheertham - Alipiri –NTR statue circle road, Railway station road to AIR bypass road and others Besides, the corporation under smart city project proposed to take up soon the novel ‘micro pockets’ system for sanitation and upkeep on contract basis.

This include three types of micro pockets covering all streets, lanes and bylanes, commercial and bulk waste generators like hotels, hostels, lodges etc. and apartments The mechanised sweeping coupled with new system of micro pockets will see the city become neat, clean and litter-free for best in-class livability and also maintain best health standards and environment to attract tourism and investment to turn Tirupati a mega city.