A long-delayed initiative to mechanise the cleaning of Delhi’s 1,400-kilometre arterial road network has gained traction, with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) establishing a seven-member committee to expedite the finalisation of a Request for Proposal (RFP). The project will include measures for dust control and scrubbing, alongside regular sweeping.

At present, the MCD deploys 52 mechanical road sweepers across road sections at least 60 feet wide. However, the plan’s implementation has faced significant delays since its inception in January 2023 under the then-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, largely due to a dispute regarding the handover of roads to the Public Works Department (PWD). It was later decided that the MCD would retain responsibility for the project and scale up its mechanical resources to ensure full coverage.

As part of the comprehensive initiative, the MCD plans to utilise around 15,000 kilolitres of treated water for road cleaning purposes. Despite having spent nearly two years in the planning phase, the project made concrete progress on 4 April, when the Delhi cabinet approved a proposal by the environment department to procure 250 water sprinkling vehicles fitted with anti-smog guns and 70 additional mechanical sweepers.

The newly formed committee is now expected to fast-track the RFP process and steer the long-anticipated project towards execution, as the city continues to grapple with rising pollution levels and dust-related concerns.