MCD proposes study on compact mechanised sweeping feasibility in narrow lanes

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has proposed exploring the use of compact mechanised sweepers on narrow city roads, initiating a feasibility study across its 12 zones.

It will focus on roads with a right of way (RoW) of less than 10 metres — a segment that has so far remained largely dependent on manual sweeping due to operational constraints. To address this, the civic body has floated an expression of interest (EoI) to explore the feasibility of deploying mechanised sweeping systems on narrow roads across the city.

The initiative comes in compliance with directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management, which has mandated mechanised sweeping of all roads in Delhi on alternate days to reduce road dust — a key contributor to air pollution.

While mechanised sweeping is already being implemented on wider roads, officials told TOI that narrow lanes pose challenges owing to limited manoeuvring space, encroachments, on-street parking, heavy pedestrian movement and mixed traffic conditions.

Under the EoI, interested agencies, service providers and manufacturers have been invited to conduct an on-ground feasibility study in any of the 12 MCD zones. The scope includes mapping suitable road stretches, analysing traffic and parking constraints, and recommending compact mechanical road-sweeping machines tailored for such conditions.

The study will also require participants to suggest machine configurations — including size, turning radius, dust-capturing efficiency and safety features — along with deployment strategies such as routing, staffing and operational hours. Notably, the proposed machines are expected to run on cleaner fuels such as electric or CNG and comply with PM10 emission norms.

Civic officials said the outcome of the feasibility study will help identify suitable technologies and operational models, which could later be tested through pilot projects on select stretches before any large-scale rollout.

The EoI, issued on March 12, will remain open for submissions till March 27, with responses scheduled to be opened the following day. With over 4,300 km of roads under 10-metre width falling within its jurisdiction, the MCD expects the study to play a crucial role in shaping future tenders and policy decisions on mechanised road cleaning in the capital.