GHMC’s sweeping machines raise dust clouds, add to commuter woes

Hyderabad: You may have seen heavy-duty vacuum sweepers mechanically sweeping the roads in the five zones (Khairatabad, LB Nagar, Secunderabad, Serilingampally and Kukatpally) of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The civic body acquired these vacuum sweepers with an objective to remove dust on main roads and to improve air quality in the city. These automated sweeping machines were supposed to clean the road but are instead throwing the dust and dirt back onto the roads.

The dumping of dust and dirt is engulfing the entire area in dust, affecting commuters the most. As per norms, the agencies, which operate these heavy-duty vacuum sweepers, are not taking up the cleaning work during the nighttime to avoid inconvenience for the road users. They are also required to take up sanitation works on the 709-km road under the GHMC limits. The commuters have been complaining that the civic body is not enforcing nighttime road cleaning.

The GHMC has hired the services of three private agencies to carry out the mechanised sweeping works, apart from their own sweepers. The contractors attached to the Comprehensive Road Maintenance Programme (CRMP) are operating 38 heavy-duty vacuum sweepers to clean the roads

Meanwhile, the agreement of CRMP is set to expire. The GHMC’s technical committee is expected to evaluate the present maintenance protocols and assess efficiency of current equipment to enhance services for subsequent term. The experts committee will identify gaps in implementation, evaluate the performance of agencies, and suggest improvements for better road upkeep. They will also carry out detailed inspections of the heavy-duty machinery including mechanised sweeping equipment.

In 2019, the GHMC had signed an agreement with the private agencies under the CRMP to maintain major stretches in the city for the next five years. The agencies were entrusted with the road repairs, maintenance and re-carpeting of roads, and sweeping roads at regular intervals.

𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝’𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝-𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭

Hyderabad's mechanised sweeping machines meant to clean roads are scattering dust and debris instead. Daytime cleaning of roads are adding to commuters' misery, raising questions on… pic.twitter.com/wnykNeHM0O

— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) January 13, 2025