GHMC Plans to Expand Privatized Sanitation Management
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is looking to expand its privatized sanitation management program. Officials plan to hand over an additional 64.40 kilometers of road corridors to private agencies. This is being done without issuing tenders, even as the contract for the existing 60.15 kilometers in the Khairatabad Zone is likely to be extended. The proposal is progressing quickly, particularly in the Charminar Zone.
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Focus on Key Areas for Cleanliness
In the past, GHMC assigned private companies to maintain cleanliness in important tourist spots, VIP routes, and heavily trafficked roads. The current contracts for these areas are set to expire on November 30. The central office has instructed the Khairatabad Zone to either renew the existing contract or select a new agency. However, concerns have been raised since specific agencies have already been named for new corridors, even though tender notifications have not yet been issued.
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Tenders Expected Soon
According to insiders from the Sanitation Management Department, tenders will be issued to select agencies for managing the newly proposed corridors. Discussions are also underway regarding the renewal of contracts for the roads already under private management.
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Significant Financial Costs
Currently, private companies like McLean and Ixora are responsible for sweeping major tourist roads and areas in Greater Hyderabad. They operate in three shifts to ensure cleanliness 24/7, covering 73 kilometers. These roads, which see significant national and international tourist traffic, are maintained more frequently than others. While roads are usually cleaned every other day, tourist and VIP routes are being swept continuously due to the high volume of visitors.
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Rising Financial Burden
The cost of hiring private agencies is significantly higher than manual sweeping by GHMC workers. Private companies spend approximately ₹3.12 lakhs per kilometer per month, compared to GHMC’s cost of ₹40,000 per kilometer per month. With the additional 64 kilometers of roads being handed over to private management, the monthly costs will rise by ₹2 crores, adding up to ₹24 crores annually. This will increase the total annual cost for private sanitation management to ₹47 crores, adding more strain to the corporation’s already stretched finances.
